Toronto Maple Leafs Mathematically Eliminated From Playoffs

[M.Dancer]

Leafs lost to Ottawa, Season opener

Trust me on the math. It's a complicated, arcane formula...but you can take it to te bank

[Michael Hardner]

Thank you David Letterman.

[Higgly]

That's the thing about living in Toronto. No surprises. In fact I think there's a bylaw against it.

[Remiel]

Can you at least point us to the source and veracity of this complex, arcane forumla?

Anyway, at least when you meet a fan of the Maple Leafs, you know that they are truly fans. When you meet " fans " of a team like the New York Yankees, you can be reasonably sure that they are just fans of winning.

[Higgly]

Maybe that's why they win more. Might do the Leafs good to go through a few seasons of empty seats.

[bradco]

Does the Maple Laffs big win tonight work into your formula?

Im just happy my canucks won woot woot

[geoffrey]

Canucks? Please.

My team may have lost tonight, but Tanguay, Iginla, Phaneuf and Kiprusoff is just too much talent for a team not to be amazing. To the cup!

[Ricki Bobbi]

Canucks? Please.

My team may have lost tonight, but Tanguay, Iginla, Phaneuf and Kiprusoff is just too much talent for a team not to be amazing. To the cup!

Hmmm, the Oilers showed who will win the Northwest this season.

Flames can't win if they can't put it in the net. Gotta do a little better on the penalty kill too.

Things are back to normal in AB. Oil boom and the Oilers are trouncing the Flames.

[M.Dancer]

Maybe that's why they win more. Might do the Leafs good to go through a few seasons of empty seats.

Back in the 80s, when I got free tickets courtesy of the Financial Times of Canada (complete with dinner at the Hot Stove Lounge) the leafs were....how shall I say this?

Sucking the big one........

The Gardens was always SRO because most of the tickets were season tickets owned by corporations (and scalpers).

And as you know, season tickets holders must pay extra for playoff games. So one season, much to evryones surprise the leafs made the playoffs...but instead of the usual 65% corporate audience it was mainly the rough and tumble hoi polloi great unwashed everyman in attendeance.....and the place was SRO

Now normally I watched the game from the comfort of the Hot Stove lounge, but the FT of C didn't include the loung in the play off tickets....so I sat a few rows up from the bench....and the leafs played their normal atrocious game...but instead of the polite white collar crowd....the fans (the real fans) were pissed at the leafs....pissed for dropping huge bucks.....and they were booing and hissing......

So this puck goes into the stands as pucks are want to do....a souvenier! But the fan holds it for a moment and throws it back on the ice...a mini ovation is heard....then another fan flings a souvenier mini hockey stick...then more kiosk bought pucks.....and then fans started throwing their leaf sweaters.....programmes....

The game was delayed for....maybe 20 minutes.....

Most exciting leaf game I have ever seen and my most cherished hockey memory (right along with the chateau neuf and filet that the Hot Stove served)

Oh.....point to that long winded exercise.....empty seats and leaf games are few and far between.

[Higgly]

Good story. You're right about the corporate seats. Who cares if they win as long as you have a treat to offer that big, important customer. I see Harper was at the season opener. Would be interesting to know whose seat that was.

[M.Dancer]

Good story. You're right about the corporate seats. Who cares if they win as long as you have a treat to offer that big, important customer. I see Harper was at the season opener. Would be interesting to know whose seat that was.

In the interests of full disclosure......I am a habs fan but will go to see the leafs if I get free tickets from a client and they include dinner.

[MightyAC]

Good story. You're right about the corporate seats. Who cares if they win as long as you have a treat to offer that big, important customer. I see Harper was at the season opener. Would be interesting to know whose seat that was.

Did anyone else think Harper looked like he was wearing make up at the game? Odd considering his social attitudes. The man is hard to like as is and then I find out he's a Leafs fan...ouch.

I have to admit that even though the members of Leafs Nation are annoying they are true fans. They haven't even been to the cup finals in 40 years. The last time they appeared in the cup final there was only 6 teams in the league. Now 16 make the playoffs. Anyone that cheers for a team that pathetic deserves some sort of credit. Leaf fans like to point out that Chicago hasn't won a cup in 45 years but hey at least they've made the finals a couple of times since.

Anyway, go Oilers.

[Rue]

Maybe that's why they win more. Might do the Leafs good to go through a few seasons of empty seats.

Yegads! I agree with Higgly! This could become a pattern!

[bradco]

Canucks? Please.

My team may have lost tonight, but Tanguay, Iginla, Phaneuf and Kiprusoff is just too much talent for a team not to be amazing. To the cup!

ya Calgary is clearly the favorite. If I had to pick a team to win it Id go for them. But then again look at the final four last year. Luongo to the cup baby

[Rue]

Good story. You're right about the corporate seats. Who cares if they win as long as you have a treat to offer that big, important customer. I see Harper was at the season opener. Would be interesting to know whose seat that was.

In the interests of full disclosure......I am a habs fan but will go to see the leafs if I get free tickets from a client and they include dinner.

I too am a Habs fan but would go if given tickets but I won't hold my breath because my clients can't afford the tickets either. Sigh.

[M.Dancer]

Good story. You're right about the corporate seats. Who cares if they win as long as you have a treat to offer that big, important customer. I see Harper was at the season opener. Would be interesting to know whose seat that was.

In the interests of full disclosure......I am a habs fan but will go to see the leafs if I get free tickets from a client and they include dinner.

I too am a Habs fan but would go if given tickets but I won't hold my breath because my clients can't afford the tickets either. Sigh.

My nephew is a manger with BMO Master card (spit spit) in Montreal (the employment benefits of being fluently Bilingual) .....he comes to Toronto around twice a month and always tries to arrange to take his uncle to a Leafs Habs match.......

[Higgly]

In the interests of full disclosure......I am a habs fan but will go to see the leafs if I get free tickets from a client and they include dinner.

OK. I think we've established that Dancer is a guy with some influence in the corporate world and needs to be convinced about all of our crazy enthusiasms.

The man is hard to like as is and then I find out he's a Leafs fan...ouch....Anyway, go Oilers.

Or he is a fan of being shown favourably on TV in the biggest market he has yet to penetrate. Which would help explain the make-up. So in addition to knowing who supplied the seats, I'd like to know who does his make-up, heh heh. Was it your opinion that he looked a little, well, gay?

Yegads! I agree with Higgly! This could become a pattern!

Damn Rue. Maybe I have misjudged you.

My nephew is a manger with BMO Master card (spit spit) in Montreal (the employment benefits of being fluently Bilingual) .....he comes to Toronto around twice a month and always tries to arrange to take his uncle to a Leafs Habs match.......

Family doesn't count Dancer. You have been postal coded. Look for spam. Have I told you about my viagra site?

[M.Dancer]

My nephew is a manger with BMO Master card (spit spit) in Montreal (the employment benefits of being fluently Bilingual) .....he comes to Toronto around twice a month and always tries to arrange to take his uncle to a Leafs Habs match.......

Family doesn't count Dancer. You have been postal coded. Look for spam. Have I told you about my viagra site?

What?

[Higgly]

Aloysius B Practicum would have you know: O if only you could spend more time with your girl!

[geoffrey]

Canucks? Please.

My team may have lost tonight, but Tanguay, Iginla, Phaneuf and Kiprusoff is just too much talent for a team not to be amazing. To the cup!

Hmmm, the Oilers showed who will win the Northwest this season.

Flames can't win if they can't put it in the net. Gotta do a little better on the penalty kill too.

Things are back to normal in AB. Oil boom and the Oilers are trouncing the Flames.

Iggy and Tanguay together and your worried about scoring? We were pretty effective offensively in the pre-season, I think this one was just a negative blip on the radar. We'll see Saturday.

[fellowtraveller]

My team may have lost tonight, but Tanguay, Iginla, Phaneuf and Kiprusoff is just too much talent for a team not to be amazing. To the cup!

I was at the game last night, and Calgary looked half a step behind much of the time.

They won't win it all playing their normal plug it up and slow it down style. The failings of that were exposed in their surrender to Anaheim last year.

They need to change their style.

Or better yet, don't change a thing......

Go Oilers, what a treat to watch high speed, entertaining hockey again.

[geoffrey]

My team may have lost tonight, but Tanguay, Iginla, Phaneuf and Kiprusoff is just too much talent for a team not to be amazing. To the cup!

I was at the game last night, and Calgary looked half a step behind much of the time.

They won't win it all playing their normal plug it up and slow it down style. The failings of that were exposed in their surrender to Anaheim last year.

They need to change their style.

Or better yet, don't change a thing......

Go Oilers, what a treat to watch high speed, entertaining hockey again.

The Oilers don't have the size or defence to be a reasonable force in the Northwest division. How can such a little team play against Colorado, Calgary or Minnesota??

They played a solid game last night, but I think that's all they've got. Calgary looked horrendous compared to their pre-season play, like I said, a blip on the radar.

My biggest concern is having a competent centre between Tanguay and Iginla, Langkow isn't one. I say throw Lombardi in there for a game and watch the goals pile up (that kid is so freakin' fast).

Calgary will finish first in the division and maybe first in the conference. There is no team with as diverse skill, we have two amazing producers offensively, the best defence in the league by far and the top goalie. How can you lose?

[bradco]

My team may have lost tonight, but Tanguay, Iginla, Phaneuf and Kiprusoff is just too much talent for a team not to be amazing. To the cup!

I was at the game last night, and Calgary looked half a step behind much of the time.

They won't win it all playing their normal plug it up and slow it down style. The failings of that were exposed in their surrender to Anaheim last year.

They need to change their style.

Or better yet, don't change a thing......

Go Oilers, what a treat to watch high speed, entertaining hockey again.

The Oilers don't have the size or defence to be a reasonable force in the Northwest division. How can such a little team play against Colorado, Calgary or Minnesota??

They played a solid game last night, but I think that's all they've got. Calgary looked horrendous compared to their pre-season play, like I said, a blip on the radar.

My biggest concern is having a competent centre between Tanguay and Iginla, Langkow isn't one. I say throw Lombardi in there for a game and watch the goals pile up (that kid is so freakin' fast).

Calgary will finish first in the division and maybe first in the conference. There is no team with as diverse skill, we have two amazing producers offensively, the best defence in the league by far and the top goalie. How can you lose?

I wouldnt say the best defense in the league by far. Probably the deepest but not really in a league of their own like you claim. They lack a true star in defense as well (Phaneuf will be in a few more years)

I love the Pronger/Niedermeyer combo in Anaheim.....I know it really drops off after that but those guys chew up so many minutes anyways. As long as they are both healthy that should be a tough team to play against especially with their offensive talent.

O and ya....Canucks win again 2-0! Im liking this lineup....4 solid lines that can all play well both ways. Underrated defense in my opinion and an allstar goalie. Ohlund/Salo/Mitchell is solid. Bieksa is shockingly improved, Krajicek has good potential. Hopefully see Bourdon for the first time tommorow night but Fitzpatrick has been solid.

sedin/sedin/naslund is a potent first line any way you slice it. Theyre going to match up just fine with Tanguay/Iginla unless those two get a decent centre.

Pyatt/Morrison/Bulis looking good. Bulis and Morrison are both fast and are showing good chemistry so far. Pyatt is the weak link there.....needs to learn to use his massive frame.

Cooke/Kesler/Burrows: these guys have been nuts. Incredible speed and intense forcheck. You wont outwork this line. If kesler can get his hands to catch up with his feet this line could add some solid scoring. Cooke has more offensive credit than people give him credit for.....its hard for him to stay healthy though.

Green/Santala/Linden: solid defensive line....Santala is the face off specialist we didnt have last year and really missed. Linden has looked good and has created some scoring chances and netted one. Green is a very solid depth player. Never got a real shot last year and every time he did play he was awesome.

Cant wait to see my team match up against edmonton and calgary .

[geoffrey]

I wouldnt say the best defense in the league by far. Probably the deepest but not really in a league of their own like you claim. They lack a true star in defense as well (Phaneuf will be in a few more years)

Calgary has never been a team built upon star players, it's always been the 20 man deep team. Being said, Phaneuf is a superstar defensemen now, if the rookie situation was a little more open (Crosby and Ovechkin in the same year) Phaneuf would have won rookie of the year. I present you the next Scott Stevens.

I can tell you with the new Phaneuf/Regher pairing, most top line players on opposing teams are a little upset. Not going to get many chances with those two together, and there is going to be a lot of physical punishment from a defense pair that weighs over 450 combined pounds yet can skate as fast as anyone on the ice.

I love the Pronger/Niedermeyer combo in Anaheim.....I know it really drops off after that but those guys chew up so many minutes anyways. As long as they are both healthy that should be a tough team to play against especially with their offensive talent.

Really drops off... how about it's like a minor league team after Pronger and Niedermeyer. We saw last year though that Niedermeyer still has it in him to carry an entire defense himself. He's likely the only defenseman I'd take over Phaneuf.

The difference is that every starting defenseman in Calgary would likely be a first line defenseman on most other teams. Phaneuf, Regher, Hamrlik and Zyuzin. That's quite a formidable force. Ference and Warrener, maybe not, but they both have their places on a team.

O and ya....Canucks win again 2-0! Im liking this lineup....4 solid lines that can all play well both ways. Underrated defense in my opinion and an allstar goalie. Ohlund/Salo/Mitchell is solid. Bieksa is shockingly improved, Krajicek has good potential. Hopefully see Bourdon for the first time tommorow night but Fitzpatrick has been solid.

It's not an underrated defense in Vancouver, they are very thin, very weak, and just tiny for an NHL defense group. Two of their starters are over 6'2" yet under 200 lbs. Weak. You can't play competitive hockey with defensemen smaller than most top line centres. Calgary just destroyed Vancouver in preseason because of this, their size just overwelmed them. If anything Vancouver will have going for it is speed through the neutral zone which will cause trouble with the Calgary's and Minnesotas if they can generate enough offence from it.

sedin/sedin/naslund is a potent first line any way you slice it. Theyre going to match up just fine with Tanguay/Iginla unless those two get a decent centre.

Absolutely. Through a decent centre between Tanguay and Iggy though and it's the best line in the league by far. I think Lombardi has the speed, size and playmaking skill to do it, but they won't give him a chance. So we need to make a trade. We'll give you Langkow and Hamrlik for Henrik.

Pyatt/Morrison/Bulis looking good. Bulis and Morrison are both fast and are showing good chemistry so far. Pyatt is the weak link there.....needs to learn to use his massive frame.

Morrison is one of the most underrated players in the league. Way more skilled than anyone gives him credit for.

Cooke/Kesler/Burrows: these guys have been nuts. Incredible speed and intense forcheck. You wont outwork this line. If kesler can get his hands to catch up with his feet this line could add some solid scoring. Cooke has more offensive credit than people give him credit for.....its hard for him to stay healthy though.

Green/Santala/Linden: solid defensive line....Santala is the face off specialist we didnt have last year and really missed. Linden has looked good and has created some scoring chances and netted one. Green is a very solid depth player. Never got a real shot last year and every time he did play he was awesome.

I don't think those combinations are much better than Calgary's 3rd and 4th. I have high hopes especially for Frisen, Yelle, Kobasew... maybe with a more offense focused centre... call up Taratukin.

Cant wait to see my team match up against edmonton and calgary .

Well if the preseason has any say in the matter, it may be close. I'm trying to pick up at least one canucks game from the company tickets. I've already managed to get the Washington tickets .

[bradco]

I wouldnt say the best defense in the league by far. Probably the deepest but not really in a league of their own like you claim. They lack a true star in defense as well (Phaneuf will be in a few more years)

Calgary has never been a team built upon star players, it's always been the 20 man deep team. Being said, Phaneuf is a superstar defensemen now, if the rookie situation was a little more open (Crosby and Ovechkin in the same year) Phaneuf would have won rookie of the year. I present you the next Scott Stevens.

I can tell you with the new Phaneuf/Regher pairing, most top line players on opposing teams are a little upset. Not going to get many chances with those two together, and there is going to be a lot of physical punishment from a defense pair that weighs over 450 combined pounds yet can skate as fast as anyone on the ice.

I love the Pronger/Niedermeyer combo in Anaheim.....I know it really drops off after that but those guys chew up so many minutes anyways. As long as they are both healthy that should be a tough team to play against especially with their offensive talent.

Really drops off... how about it's like a minor league team after Pronger and Niedermeyer. We saw last year though that Niedermeyer still has it in him to carry an entire defense himself. He's likely the only defenseman I'd take over Phaneuf.

The difference is that every starting defenseman in Calgary would likely be a first line defenseman on most other teams. Phaneuf, Regher, Hamrlik and Zyuzin. That's quite a formidable force. Ference and Warrener, maybe not, but they both have their places on a team.

O and ya....Canucks win again 2-0! Im liking this lineup....4 solid lines that can all play well both ways. Underrated defense in my opinion and an allstar goalie. Ohlund/Salo/Mitchell is solid. Bieksa is shockingly improved, Krajicek has good potential. Hopefully see Bourdon for the first time tommorow night but Fitzpatrick has been solid.

It's not an underrated defense in Vancouver, they are very thin, very weak, and just tiny for an NHL defense group. Two of their starters are over 6'2" yet under 200 lbs. Weak. You can't play competitive hockey with defensemen smaller than most top line centres. Calgary just destroyed Vancouver in preseason because of this, their size just overwelmed them. If anything Vancouver will have going for it is speed through the neutral zone which will cause trouble with the Calgary's and Minnesotas if they can generate enough offence from it.

sedin/sedin/naslund is a potent first line any way you slice it. Theyre going to match up just fine with Tanguay/Iginla unless those two get a decent centre.

Absolutely. Through a decent centre between Tanguay and Iggy though and it's the best line in the league by far. I think Lombardi has the speed, size and playmaking skill to do it, but they won't give him a chance. So we need to make a trade. We'll give you Langkow and Hamrlik for Henrik.

Pyatt/Morrison/Bulis looking good. Bulis and Morrison are both fast and are showing good chemistry so far. Pyatt is the weak link there.....needs to learn to use his massive frame.

Morrison is one of the most underrated players in the league. Way more skilled than anyone gives him credit for.

Cooke/Kesler/Burrows: these guys have been nuts. Incredible speed and intense forcheck. You wont outwork this line. If kesler can get his hands to catch up with his feet this line could add some solid scoring. Cooke has more offensive credit than people give him credit for.....its hard for him to stay healthy though.

Green/Santala/Linden: solid defensive line....Santala is the face off specialist we didnt have last year and really missed. Linden has looked good and has created some scoring chances and netted one. Green is a very solid depth player. Never got a real shot last year and every time he did play he was awesome.

I don't think those combinations are much better than Calgary's 3rd and 4th. I have high hopes especially for Frisen, Yelle, Kobasew... maybe with a more offense focused centre... call up Taratukin.

Cant wait to see my team match up against edmonton and calgary .

Well if the preseason has any say in the matter, it may be close. I'm trying to pick up at least one canucks game from the company tickets. I've already managed to get the Washington tickets .

-still say at least a couple years until you can consider Phaneuf bonfide superstar, admitting that he is awesome. Lets agree to disagree

-I like your opinion on Morrison seeing that most Canucks fans are quick to roast the guy. His defensive awareness makes him an asset even when he isnt producing.

-small defensemen size isnt going to hamper you that bad as long as you movethe puck quickly. Id take speed over size anyday in the "new" nhl. Ohlund and Mitchell are big guys that can play tough. If Ohlie was a little faster I think he would be a premier defensmen. Bieksa is a big boy he can handle himself. Bourdon is gonna be a tough defensemen in a few years.

-I like the speed of our third line and I think it may prove to be one of the best third lines in the league. Lets wait and see

-As far as preseason games....dont really consider them at all. Neither teams dressing their full team, chemistry isnt worked out, line juggling etc. Lets wait for a regular season game until we judge. As far as our defense against Detroit and Columbus I thought they smothered them pretty good. A lot of dumb hooking penalties where it wasnt so much a hook but the stick against the guys body....just got to remember to keep the stick on the ice.

-Thornton/Cheechoo are the most dominant and itll take a heck of a centre to match those two guys.

-I wouldnt give Henrick for Tanguay and Hamrlik let alone Langkow. You really have to watch him and his brother on a nightly basis to have respect for their crazy sixth sense about what the other is doing/wants to do. Wicked combo that should never be broken up. They will both get 80 points min this year....probably around 90.