The 2009-2010 NHL Season: General News & Discussion Thread

[Leto]

fuck. 7 - 2 and Avery gets 2 goals. I can't wait for a new team in QC, they would most likely get cup before the Leafs.

[streak_56]

Is it me or is Brian Burke not the answer Toronto was looking for?

Trade away a decent prospect in Pogge? Kessel for two #1s and a second rounder and he's not even playing? Granted I think they've improved on defence but offensively they need help. Toskala who? I wonder how much depth they have in goal? I honestly hate the Leafs but its horrible to see a team get destroyed like that. Must be nice to get a decent first rounder for Toronto but wait... will Boston get it? Not looking good for the next few seasons unless they shell out some major cash.

[Baraka_Guru]

We've already been told: long, slow rebuild.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by streak_56

Is it me or is Brian Burke not the answer Toronto was looking for?

It's just you, Burke brought some talented players in, they just aren't living up to their potential (Komasarek, Beauchemin I'm looking in your direction)

Trade away a decent prospect in Pogge?

Couldn't agree more, that was a dumb trade, should have got rid of Toskala and went with Pogie and that Swedish guy.

Kessel for two #1s and a second rounder and he's not even playing?

I'm still not too sure how I feel about this deal yet, have to wait and see how Kessel plays I guess.

Granted I think they've improved on defence but offensively they need help.

Well, on paper they've improved on defence, but some of their new defencemen are trying to do too much and taking way, way, way too many stupid penalties.

We've already been told: long, slow rebuild.

I can handle a long, slow rebuild, but they should have kept Pogie, you don't rebuild a team with a shitty goalie who if it wasn't for expansion would be flipping burgers somewhere in Finland.

They should have kept Bozak, Hanson, and Khadri in the NHL, Wilson says he wants Khadri to be a better goal scorer in the OHL, so he gets more goals in the NHL, well the kid isn't going to learn anything there, you learn by playing against people who are better than you, not the same kids you lit up a year prior.

If they keep losing like this old Wilson may be looking to TSN for a broadcasting job that Torts gave up to go to the Rangers, that is if Ray Ferraro isn't there.

[Leto]

I heard that Darcy Tucker got cheered in Toronto tonight. Oh yes, the Leafs lost again, to Colorado. But how would we know? The game wasn't on TV. Unless you paid for fucken Leafs TV. Why anybody would pay for anything from MLSE these days is beyond me.

6 games without a win. Way to go guys.

[silent_jay]

I was glad to see Darcy back in TO, the Leafs fans gave him a good cheer, especially when he scored. They should have kept Darcy as well, he could have shown the drift they have there now how to play with some heart and some balls.

Oh yeah, big surprise Komasarek took another stupid penalty and of courde they scored on the PP, and a goal went in off his head, I think the Habs set up the Leafs and cloned Komasarek and kept the decent one for themselves because the one the Leafs has fuckin sucks balls.

[BulletCatcher]

I think this thread should be retitled to 'The 2009-2010 Toronto Maple Leaf Season: General News & Discussion Thread' .

A good start to the season so far with a few surprises early on. Who would have thought Colorado would start this strong? It's not going to last of course (unless Anderson can continue his phenomenal play through the whole season) but it's good to see they are not just rolling over playing dead like most expected.

My Blues started the season well against Detroit in Sweden but have since cooled a bit. I don't know if they are suffering from jet lag or what but they have looked flat their last 2 games. They have 5 days off before playing Phoenix on Thursday so hopefully they can get some rest or find some way to liven up their play. Watching the last 2 games was like watching the Wild play.

[Leto]

Haha. Well nobody stops other team's fans from contributing. The more the merrier, just jump in.

[streak_56]

Actually there have been alot of surprises and alot of teams moving up. I think Chicago will break Detroits hold on the central division. Detroit looks really sluggish this season. I'm not happy with their play, but they'll pick it up to make it #4 seed against Calgary. Calgary is another surprise, not for good, I think for an improved defense, they've done sweet FA defensively and have lucked out ALOT to win 4. I hate Luongo BTW, considering he's my number 1 on my fantasy team. I'm surprised to see Heatley get such a nice start in San Jose, he's actually one of my favourite players despite what happened over the summer. Philly should be a powerhouse, Boston is moving down this season but will still challenge for top seed, the Central division will be the hardest division to win IMO, Leafs will be bottom in the NHL and Montreal is another surprise for not getting a good start, Gionta, Gomez, and Camileri, all good players but losing Markov will hurt them and Russia.

Here's how it'll go in the Conferences

WEST

1) San Jose
2) Chicago
3) Vancouver
4) Detroit
5) Calgary
6) Anaheim
7) Columbus
8) LA Kings

9) St Louis (1 point out)
10) Phoenix (1 point out)
11) Edmonton
12) Dallas
13) Nashville
14) Colorado
15) Minnesota


EAST

1) Pittsburgh
2) Boston
3) Washington
4) Rangers
5) Philly
6) Buffalo
7) Montreal (because its always Boston v. Montreal in the first round)
8) New Jersey

9) Ottawa (2 points out)
10) Carolina (5 points out)
11) Tampa Bay
12) Atlanta
13) Florida
14) Islanders
15) Toronto (worst in NHL)

Pittsburgh/Phildephia vs. San Jose/Chicago for the cup... too close to call for these teams.

I think Ovechkin will pass the 150 point mark this season with Malkin close on his tail at about 140. Ovechkin is too much of a competitor to let Malkin beat his point total this year.


And honestly, I think I'm more excited for the Olympics because; 1) its in Canada, 2) Russia/Sweden/USA/Canada look like strong teams and 3) I have a secret crush on the Olympics.

[Baraka_Guru]

Leafs have "hit rock bottom."

This is the club's worst start in 92 years: 0-6-1. Ouch.

In a way, this is a bit nostalgic for me. When I first followed the Leafs--when I first attended a game--they were in about the same shape: the Doug Carpenter/Tom Watt years. Those were dark days...but we held a hope nonetheless, no matter how angry we got at those bozos.

I wonder what Peter Ing is up to these days....

[Jetée]

I'll be back when all the teams have played at least 10 games this season.

Here's a quick overview of my team:

The Capitals may be high-scoring, but the story (the early one) of the playoffs last year, the rookie goaltender, Varlamov, while promising, has much to improve upon with his goal-scoring defense.

It seems as soon as he lets one shot into the net, he loses so much confidence that he allows them in bunches (most evident in Rd 2 when Pitt. shattered him). He's a great young talent, but with how he lets the first score affect him, I can see why he was not automatically named the starter.

At this point, I think that the Capitals may be one of the top 3 scoring teams in the NHL, but they also maybe allowing the league-leading scores against them.

Hm, I really like the interface of NHL.com. It becomes that much easier to gather my thoughts.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

In a way, this is a bit nostalgic for me. When I first followed the Leafs--when I first attended a game--they were in about the same shape: the Doug Carpenter/Tom Watt years. Those were dark days...but we held a hope nonetheless, no matter how angry we got at those bozos.

Oh christ I remember those days as well, they need to bring back Brophy at least he had some anger behind the bench and showed some emotion.

I wonder what Peter Ing is up to these days....

I had to look it up:

Ing retired from hockey and worked at a casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and later as Director of Slot Marketing at Casino Niagara.[1] He is currently CEO of Fan-Tastic Sports.

They could always bring back Allan Bester, he's at least better than Vesa.

I'm not one to call for a coaches head because the players are playing like a steaming pile, but Wilson has to do something to get the Leafs motivated, call up young guys, bench Komasarek and Beauchemin they aren't doing shit anyways, bench Ponikarovsky he's a lazy player, never see the guy without the puck, and this fuckin Whallin, where the hell did they get that piece of shit from, he's useless. Khadri is 100 times better than him.

They're rebuilding so they bring in Wayne Primeau, he's old, you need youth to rebuild not age, all I can say is they better not trade Schenn away, he's the future of defence on that team, without him you have no good young up and coming defencemen on that team.

Should be an interesting couple of weeks that's for sure,

[Baraka_Guru]

Ha-ha....Bester was the bestest!

Yeah...these guys have a week off, so I hope they take that time to reflect on such a shitty start to what doesn't have to be a shitty season.

[streak_56]

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

Ha-ha....Bester was the bestest!

Yeah...these guys have a week off, so I hope they take that time to reflect on such a shitty start to what doesn't have to be a shitty season.

And I won't be there to dry the tears... this is all bittersweet for any other hockey fan. Every year, I have to hear how awesome the Leafs are with not one whisper on how horrid they will be. I'm a big Pogge fan, met him a few times, stand up guy, he's my favourite up-and-comer to not make the NHL. So needless to say I've got a hate on for the Leafs.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by streak_56

I'm a big Pogge fan, met him a few times, stand up guy, he's my favourite up-and-comer to not make the NHL. So needless to say I've got a hate on for the Leafs.

I'm still puzzled by this trade as well. The only way I can see it is the Leafs will always take the foreign born player over the Canadian player. They should have off'd Toskala for a bag of pucks and some beer, or whatever they could get. They got nothing for Pogge anways, well they got a conditional 2011 draft pick, which is basically a bag of pucks and some beers.

I doubt I'll ever make sense of this deal, a rebuilding team trades a good young goalie with tons of potential, yet keeps an old goalie who is lucky to even be in the league, and definitely isn't a starter.

[streak_56]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

I'm still puzzled by this trade as well. The only way I can see it is the Leafs will always take the foreign born player over the Canadian player. They should have off'd Toskala for a bag of pucks and some beer, or whatever they could get. They got nothing for Pogge anways, well they got a conditional 2011 draft pick, which is basically a bag of pucks and some beers.

I doubt I'll ever make sense of this deal, a rebuilding team trades a good young goalie with tons of potential, yet keeps an old goalie who is lucky to even be in the league, and definitely isn't a starter.

I think it'll be as said above... long, slow rebuild. And hope to hell that some of your lower than 1st rounders develop into sleeper players. But Leaf nation is loyal so their fan base will shrink a little but it'll never go away.

[BulletCatcher]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

I doubt I'll ever make sense of this deal, a rebuilding team trades a good young goalie with tons of potential, yet keeps an old goalie who is lucky to even be in the league, and definitely isn't a starter.

Manny Legace is still available if your desperate enough. Seriously though It's been a rough few years for the Leafs. I really can't give much of an opinion why as I honestly haven't followed them that closely. As much as I love hockey I will admit I pay way more attention to the Western Conference than the East. I tried following the Leaf's a couple of years ago after they aquired Jason Blake (He's a local boy. Watched him play at Moorhead High) but was never drawn to them as a whole and gave up watching.

The big problem as I see it now is even if Burke wanted to replace Wilson there's still the matter of the Olympics. Seeing as they both still have to work together during the Olympics any change now could have serious consequinses for Team USA in Vancouver.

[Leto]

I saw most of the Vancouver - Chicago game last night. Vancouver finally got a 3rd win against a rival Blackhawk team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Toews took a massive hit, and couldn't stand up afterwards, had to leave the game.

- Bullet: one of my fav Leaf players is Blake, he shows the heart (not always the skill, but definitely the heart) that local fans want in a Leaf. Hope he has as good a year as last season.

[silent_jay]

Anybody catch the Armstrong hit on Bergeron the other night in the Habs game?

YouTube - Marc-Andre Bergeron Dizzy after Huge Hit by Colby Armstrong - Oct 20th 2009 (HD)

YouTube - Marc-Andre Bergeron Dizzy after Huge Hit by Colby Armstrong - Oct 20th 2009 (HD)

Of course the TSN panel in all their wisdom thinks he shouldn't have been 'allowed' to play the rest of the game. What they don't seem to get is that you can be knocked dizzy without getting a concussion, especially if the player hitting you didn't give it an extra push to the head.

Also when do announcers who don't play the game, and in my opinion are utterly clueless about the game know better than the doctor examining the player, or hell the player wether or not he should return. There's a big difference between concussion and knocked dizzy and players know the difference, happened to me many times.

[streak_56]

Looks like the leafs actually played 30 minutes in a game... wait... games are 60 minutes... oh well... half the game is an improvement.

[silent_jay]

Strike up the band and plan the parade, the Leafs finally played 60 minutes, stayed out of the box for the first time this year, and finally got the win. Good for Hagmund getting the hat trick as well, he always works hard.

[Baraka_Guru]

[IdeoFunk]

YouTube - Steve Ott hipchecks Carlo Colaiacovo

YouTube - Steve Ott hipchecks Carlo Colaiacovo

Anyone see the hit Ott got a two game suspension for? I really can't figure out how the league figures out its suspensions anymore its getting ridiculous.

[Leto]

is he injured? poor kid is always getting hit or hurt.

[silent_jay]

Ott got suspended for the hit, which seemed like a clean hip check to me, good old school hit, Scott Stevens style. Yet Richards from the Flyers got nothing for his hit the other night, the NHL double sttandard.

[BulletCatcher]

I'm sure it's because Ott is a repeat offender and Colaiacovo was injured on the play. The hit was a bit low though still clean in my opinion but I guess it was enough for the league to make an example. It's still not right though as silent_jay mentioned it was nowhere near as bad as the Richards hit or even several others I've seen so far this season.

[Leto]

Yeah, it seems that Carlo is a lightning rod for bad luck too. I saw the near hit that Richards attempted on Ovechkin last night. It was a carbon copy of the Booth hit:

YouTube - Mike Richards destroys/hits David Booth

YouTube - Mike Richards destroys/hits David Booth

And there's this hit on Petrovicky:

YouTube - Mike Richards hit on Petrovicky

YouTube - Mike Richards hit on Petrovicky

This one on Malkin isn't so obvious:

YouTube - Mike Richards hits Evgeni Malkin then Malkin scores

YouTube - Mike Richards hits Evgeni Malkin then Malkin scores

And on Crosby:

YouTube- Richards hit on Crosby

YouTube- Richards hit on Crosby

[silent_jay]

I feel bad for Carlo, the Leafs never gave the kid a fair shake, but I blame that on Quinn he had his favorites and Carlo wasn't one of them. Yet Jeff Finger and Mike Van Ryn are still there, that baffles me, both are horrible defencemen, if I was coaching kids Van Ryn and Finger would be examples of how not to play the point.

Richards will get his someday, people start to notice these things, the guys will just get his number and wait for the right time to take him out, at least that's what I would do, or did do, back in the day.

---------- Post added at 06:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:48 AM ----------

Originally Posted by BulletCatcher

It's still not right though as silent_jay mentioned it was nowhere near as bad as the Richards hit or even several others I've seen so far this season.

Like the Ruutu hit on Darcy, that was just brutal, and to only get 3 games, the NHL needs to get its suspensions under control, or at least make it less obvious they don't know what they're doing. Must be a thing with the Ruutu name that makes you a pansy, you have the idiot who plays for Ottawa and now you have this guy, and I believe it was Christian Ruutu who played back in the day and wore the garbage can Jofa helmet.

YouTube - Darcy Tucker getting boarded by Tuomo Ruutu (10/23/2009) (FS Carolinas Feed)

YouTube - Darcy Tucker getting boarded by Tuomo Ruutu (10/23/2009) (FS Carolinas Feed)

[streak_56]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

wore the garbage can Jofa helmet.

I wear a Jofa helmet... it's half decent, its for people who's head is too large and round for other helmets.


And it looks like the loser leafs are on a win streak!

[Leto]

2 games. yay. oh wait, there's another game tonight.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by streak_56

I wear a Jofa helmet... it's half decent, its for people who's head is too large and round for other helmets.


And it looks like the loser leafs are on a win streak!

But is it the Gretzky Jofa


Or the other style:

[streak_56]

Definately not.... a little more protection I would like to think. Its like an updated version of that helmet, although the general shape is the same.

[silent_jay]

Ah yes the new Jofa's, I don't mind them at all, I thought you were talking about the back in the day Jofa's. Always wanted to wear a Gretzky Jofa, those were comfortable helmets, but minor hockey association had rules against them, so had to wear it in shinny instead.

I still remember wearing cooperalls when I was a kid playing hockey, it was so bad I ahd to have 2 pairs, green ones for winter hockey and black for my summer hockey team, oh the humanity.

[BulletCatcher]

Dammit, Pronger!

For those of you who were questioning the way the League hands out suspensions there is now a handy flow chart available.....

NHL Suspention Flow Chart

[silent_jay]

Haha Damian Cox, I hate that bastard almost as much as I hate Pierre McGuire, I mean Pierre is there between the benches with no glass most time and these guys can't hit the fucker with a puck, I know I'd be trying, hell if I was team owner I'd give them a bonus if they did.

That chart is hilarious, I figured Coly just pulled numbers out of Betman's ass and went with it, they're both ruining hockey, like on HNIC tonight when Campbell said they have to take just a little bit of the physical play away, fuck that, they want a more gentle hockey, go run the NWHL and leave the mans game alone.

NHL general managers will get a sneak peek at new helmet designs and examine ways to stop head shots when they meet next week, Hockey Night in Canada contributor Pierre LeBrun revealed during Saturday's Hotstove segment.

League officials are looking for ways to keep helmets from coming off during bodychecks and fights.

Many players, such as Calgary's Jarome Iginla, don't like to wear visors because they wouldn't want to fight while wearing the partial shield, LeBrun said.

New helmet designs, including one that features a snap-off visor, are under consideration.

The GMs will also look at a new double-layered helmet, which consists of a visor and hard shell on the outside and another hard shell on the inside. If a player wants to rip off the outer portion during a fight, he's still left with another helmet (without a visor) underneath.

The NHL is trying to make it safer for fighters, LeBrun said.

"You've got to think outside the box. Jacques Plante got laughed at 50 years ago when he put a mask on," LeBrun said.

"Someone died last year," LeBrun said when questioned about the radical changes, referring to to the death of Don Sanderson, who played in an Ontario senior league. Sanderson's helmet came off during a fight and his head hit the ice, causing fatal injuries.
Milbury demurs

HNIC analyst Mike Milbury doesn't think such radical changes are necessary.

"Someone is going to die every day. If you don't want to get hurt, then don't play the game," Milbury said.

"Guys have been playing this game at a high-speed forever, and that's when it's fun ... when these guys go after each other and play physically," he said.

The GMs will also look at how to stop the blind-side hits that are causing so much concern not only around the NHL, but also in junior hockey.

Milbury is skeptical.

"We've looked at those all the time," Milbury said. "And I think guys like [NHL disciplinarian] Colin Campbell know when you cross the line — and he punishes people appropriately."

But there are rarely penalties for hits to the head, and punishment often only comes from the NHL after the game is over in the form of a suspension, HNIC contributor David Shoalts said.

"The referees say there's nothing in the rules about a head shot," he said. "Maybe what they need to do is change that."

There's some support for a new rule that would penalize blind-side hits and shots to the head by making it a penalty to hit someone when you come from "outside his field of vision."

But hitting from behind is already a penalty, and Milbury thinks it could be too difficult for referees to determine if an offending player was coming from a player's blind spot.

Coaches need to teach players how to brace themselves better for a hit in the corners, Milbury said.
Trade rumours swirling

As the GMs prepare to debate the merits of new equipment and rule changes, trade rumours will also be on their minds.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Tomas Kaberle is generating some interest —potentially from the Chicago Blackhawks — after a torrid start to the season. Kaberle has 18 points in 16 games so far this season.

The New York Islanders could be getting ready to deal goaltender Martin Biron, as soon as starter Rick DiPietro returns from knee surgery. Biron has stated that he wants to be traded to a contender, rather than toil as a backup on the Islanders.

Also of note, it's still uncertain if the Great One will attend one of the NHL's marquee events Monday. Wayne Gretzky will make a decision Sunday on whether to attend the Hockey Hall of Fame inductions, LeBrun said.

All of the inductees are close to Gretzky and if he skips the event, it would be considered a big snub to the NHL, perhaps indicating his anger at how the league handled the Phoenix Coyotes insolvency.

GMs will target helmets, head shots: Hotstove

Coaches need to teach players how to brace themselves better for a hit in the corners, Milbury said.

Milbury is correct, now days the thing to do is turn your back to the player checking you, why because players are pussies and are afraid of getting hit, just watch an NHL game and count the amount of times players turn when they're about to get hit near the boards. Man the fuck up and take the hit, the closer you are to the boards the less it hurts, trust me.

[silent_jay]

Wow anybody catch the lack of fans attending the Bruins-Thrashers tonight? I'm pretty sure there were more people on the two teams combined benches than there were in the stands. That's the Bettman legacy, teams in markets where they don't belong, and they don't have the fans in the stands to prove it. You think a team in Winnipeg or Quebec City would have that few fans in the stands? In my opinion, doubtful.

[BulletCatcher]

Not NHL but still hockey related....

Caught this at a local USHL (Fargo Force) game last week. Perfect ad placement for behind the visitor bench .

[silent_jay]

That is the best ad placement ever.

That's a hell of a nice arena for a Jr. Hockey team as well, from the description I found of the USHL it's about the same as our Jr. A here, very nice.

[BulletCatcher]

Just opened last year and not a bad seat in the house.

They hosted the IHF World U18 Tournement last spring and just about everyone loved playing there even though the attendance was not the best. Of course we were in the middle of fighting record flooding at the time as well so that had a lot to do with the low turn out. I took my kids to see Slovakia v Norway and as we were walking along the concourse to our seats an arena official stopped us and asked if the kids wanted to ride the Zamboni between periods. Too my disappointment neither of them wanted to. I don't think I've ever been more ashamed of my kids than at that moment. I swear I raised them better than that. Must be their mother's influence.

[silent_jay]

Wish I could have played Jr. in a rink that nice, we played in a rink where you took a lot of penalties because the box was the only place in the barn with heat lol, and the boards were so low tey only came up to your tailbone. Darn mothers and their influence on kids, I'm sure they'll get another chance to ride the zamboni, they're quite fun, used to drive one when I worked at the rink back home.