Toronto Maple Leafs

There’s not much to this story. I considered making the title, The Freefall continues.

After a strong showing that came up just short in Chicago, the Maple Leafs now find themselves 1 point below the lowly Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference, sitting in 11th spot. 

This means that with Toronto’s remaining 18 games Toronto must now leapfrog no less than three teams to capture 8th place in the conference.

Can it be done? Of course it can! But it will take that same dedication as we saw in the the last moments of the Chicago game for every minute of every 18 games we have left to do it.

Here’s to be-leafing.

getrealhockey:

NHL on NBC Analysts Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick in Heated Exchange Last Night.

There was a fascinating moment of live television last night on NBC Sports Network as NHL on NBC hockey analysts Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick had a heated exchange about a hit to the head that took place during the Dallas Stars-Pittsburgh Penguins game. The argument about Eric Nystrom’s roughing penalty on Kris Letang was secondary to the emotion on display as it appeared Milbury and JR were about to come to blows. 

The root of the animosity between them goes back to 2010 just after Roenick’s former team the Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years. JR wears his heart on his sleeve and in a moment of real genuine emotion he started crying, talking through his tears about not having won the Cup with Chicago and how happy he was that Blackhawks fans finally get to celebrate a championship after waiting for so long. 

But then Milbury ruined what was a rare moment of heartfelt emotion on national television by saying “well I didn’t win the Cup either, but I’m not crying.” It made Milbury look like an unempathetic jerk. Milbury has a reputation as being an obnoxious blowhard. He even was accused of assaulting a 12-year-old boy during a fight with his son. The case was dismissed. For some reason NBC keeps bringing Milbury back. There have been times after seeing him appear on TSN that I thought he was banished to Canada. But then I see him on NBC again putting down his fellow analysts like JR and ridiculing some of my favorite players like Alex Ovechkin, who he says has a “low hockey IQ.” In other words, Milbury doesn’t think Ovie is very smart. Of course it is easy to criticize a player like Ovechkin from a studio in Bristol, Connecticut. 

It’s not that Milbury doesn’t make good points sometimes. In fact, tonight he was on the right side of the argument regarding the Nystrom-Letang hit and in his concern for all the concussions in the NHL. The problem is how he comes across as arrogant and domineering. Kudos to Roenick for challenging Milbury and standing up for himself. Keep it up JR. You’ve got millions of us rooting for you.

Click here to watch video of tonight’s Milbury-Roenick rumble courtesy of Deadspin.

- Josh Marks

True this.

(Source: getrealhockey.blogspot.com)

As much as I love Trade Deadline and all the hullabaloo that comes along with it, I’m glad the storm has passed.

The biggest issue with the Deadline I think, is Twitter.

Nearly every fan and probably about half of the players and every single goddamn pundit, insider, reporter and “expert” has twitter. This means everyone hears and sees and comments on everything. No one is safe from rumour be they true or far fetched. And thats a lot of pressure to play under.

Guys who hear their name from All-Star game to Deadline Day play under a scrutiny that can be at times, totally media generated. Sometimes GM’s get caught totally off guard when their players find out via twitter about some rumour that has no merit other than what a yahoo at a local paper tweeted. (I heard once that Eric Staal was guaranteed coming to Toronto).

All that aside, Toronto made two moves, both one for one swaps for minor leaugers.

First trade saw sizeable defencemen Keith Aulie for Tampa Bay’s Carter Ashton. I like this deal for Toronto as they work to get a young strong power forward who was taken as a first round draft pick in 2009. Toronto has some good depth with their minor D, but saw a need for strong forwards and filled that hole.

The second trade was another minor league swap, D-man for D-man, the Leafs got Mark Fraser for Dale Mitchell in a trade with Anaheim.

The end story here is that I liked what Burke did, and I hope our boys can start getting some wins with all this uncertainty behind them.

Darrel Boyce claimed off waivers by the Blue Jackets.

Off the bat I want to say I can’t play the hate card at Burke here. He’s making some room for trade deadline and so it remains to be seen what deals get made.

But as I said in my last posting here, I’m a huge fan of Boyce. He was one of the hardest workers on the Leafs and a key reason why our fourth line was as agressive and successful on the forecheck as it was. He will be a key loss for the Leafs in my opinion and while it might not show up on the scoreboard, it will show up in the attitude of the team.

MIss ya Boyce!

Truth.

I love the man and I think no one works harder than he does. Can’t say I’m surprised though.

(Source: erinmapleleaf)

Following a disheartening loss to San Jose on home ice things are looking pretty bleak for those who love the Maple Leafs. But I’m here to tell you things are not that bad yet.

Did the leafs look shoddy the first two periods of the San Jose game? Hells yes they did. Did they look spectacular for the final 20? Yes, yes they did.

a 2-1 loss is not so bad. Of course when it follows the 6 or 7 previous outings the Leafs have had it can be a little daunting. 

The Leafs are currently 9th, behind a Winnipeg team that has 2 games in hand. Just think about where we were at this time last year! Last year the play-offs weren’t even a pipe dream.

We have two goaltenders that have POTENTIAL for great things. Look at how Gustavsson kept us in the race, and the fact that Reimer has spouts of glory here and there. Yes, yes I  know we need more from them both, but I believe its there.

There is just under a quarter season left and the best news for all of us, Washington keeps losing. 

And if you need any further consoling, at least we’re not the Columbus “Fire Sale” Blue Jackets.

Chins up Leafs Faithful… we will be rewarded yet!

REALLY?!?!

You’re going to play Keith Aulie vs. the Sedin Twins??

Aulie isn’t even our best defender on the Marlies farm team and because he played with Dion before you put him out there against Henrik and Daniel?

Ron Wilson is an idiot.

Where the hell is Korbinian Hulzer? That kid has skills, or how about mike EFFING Komeserek? Heathy scratch??? You gotta be kidding me.