Daisy Jane
everything is gonna be okay!
- Jul 2, 2009
- 70,241
- 9,251
Loose-Leafs
Per request of people - continuing to do Loose-Leafs. (y'all better comment - shake fist). I also, officially joined twitter, and I have no.clue. what to do. In fact... I already forgot my twitter handle
so I might as well write this 
Toronto Maple Leafs At A Glance
depending on the outcome of tomorrow's game against Boston:
30 games played: 16-11-3 - good for 35 points, and holding onto the 2nd wildcard spot. I refuse to assume who the merry crap we'd be facing in the playoffs. I'd assume Boston? (they are third in the conference and we are 6th - but that's not the case right? No clue - and even though someone will be nice and explain it to me - I'll simply forget again).
Goals per Game: 16th
Goals against: 16th
Powerplay: 3rd! YAY!
Penaltykill: 24th (oh good grief).
Addressing the Whinging:
Okay. I really should get out of the habit of writing the Loose-Leafs during the day, because when I do - things tend to go wrong, wrong wrong. However - I will defend this man:
as much as I can because I don't think he is as bad as everyone is making him out to be - but he's really not that good (right now) either. But in seriously, the constant harping and stone flinging about this is driving me up a wall. [and boy - Clarkson doesn't make it easy for me some nights].
But I think he will work out. In fact, I know that he will. But boy, has he reached the Upper Limits of Kostka Hate already. And he's here. He's not going to be bought out unless he sucks horrendously (which he doesn't). so accept it and move on. Come over and have pie, I made some.
I have also had it up to here, here I tell you - with having to read pages upon pages about how much our team sucks. We don't. The team is frustrating, the team has its issues, but we don't suck. We've seen plenty of Leafs teams that sucked - this team is going through a lot of growing pains right now. But what is it?
And the argument I always get is "Daisy - why are you/why should we be optimistic because "List of reasons why we shouldn't goes here."
this is why
because this is the Toronto Maple Leafs, and this is my team. The end. I will cheer them on, I will get frustrated in game - if they break my heart I will cry, but I will always try to find something to be positive about (unless they do what they did against Columbus. then I will rage). But Holy Moses... y'all are so freaking talented at bringing a girl down (or causing her to lose her lid). I get it. I really do - it might actually shock the snot out of you if I told you - I'm not generally the most optimistic person in the world. Why the heck do I shine all of that on the Leafs though? Because they are my freaking team. I'd be this optimistic if the Leafs were in the same situation as Buffalo. (okay - I wouldn't be "ooh, we're going to win!!) all the time - but I'd be optimistic for the future.
We're still very young - there is still a lot of nasty habits that the team has developed from the Wilson years (and again a big part of it is how we are built winger in - not centre out) and we still need to make strides to not be a team that could potentially make the playoffs - but become that team that can be considered a Cup Contender.
and I just don't understand the mental energy of watching the team and specifically looking for reasons to be miserable, and bemoan. I don't. If watching the team stressed me out that much, I'd find another team. Like Pittsburgh. Or Ottawa. or whatever.
The Nonis Watch:
Nonis waiting for the right moment to strike...
Nonis had said several times that he doesn't want to take assets that the team (finally) has and trade them for 35+ year old men. (Oh.. Owen Nolan... Brian Leetch... what could have been, if you know - you weren't freaking old!). And I'm good with that. I don't want him to.
But this summer, I'd really like it if he could sign one or two.
Our core is set and it is young - but now we need to start surrounding them with older, efficent supplemental players. I do believe Bolland was one of those guys - and Clarkson too - but we need a Whitney. Or we need someone like:
Just someone when the team is spiraling to just speak up and go "Look. yes. it sucks - we're freaking out, but we've got this.Someone like a Whitney or Jagr... someone who when it looks like things are down and out - I want that guy to be smirking on the bench, thinking: we've totally got this. Then go out and "get this." I think this would really help more of the third period breakdowns.
Ideally - I'd want one of those on defense too.
Creating Nothings from our Somethings
I like them - I truly do - but - I think we need to take them away. I feel that we're physical enough without them, and they are showing that without the team culture being "We Will Beat You Down. Constantly." they are not finding a place here. [also: this will save the team almost what? Almost 1.5 million in Cap?] (I will point out - I did write this before the Ottawa game, and McLaren did beat up Neil - beautiful thing - but I also do think it doesn't affect my point).
We know what we have when we have everybody here
JVR-Bozak or Kadri - Kessel
Lupul - Bozak or Kadri or Bolland - Clarkson
Kulemin - Bolland - Raymond
but I want to address our 4th line.
It would ideally be something like
McClement - Smith or Holland - <<insert rookie here>>
I think Smith has really shown what it takes to be part of this team, and I'd like him to stay. McClement playing 4th line winger minutes can shut down the crap-load of minutes he's playing ES, and we unleash him for the PK.
But I'd like to have a Nothing Line where Randy can toss out the line and nothing happens. Either we don't score, but they don't score. No penalties being drawn, zilch. Ideally - you want your Nothing Line to be awesome and have an average of 12 goals and maybe 25ish assists (so 4goals/5 assists to a man)
I also think this will help the Leafs in the long run, and maybe implement a cycle-rush hybrid that we had last year because it could work like this:
Kessel & Kadri's lines: rush.
Bolland line rush/cycle
Nothing Line: cycle.
I don't even think that's complicating anything here because if you look at it: that's generally what we're doing regardless.
Kessel Line: breaks up the play, and goes on the rush.
for the most part: Lupul/Kadri line rush, but Lupul will cycle that damn puck on his own if he needs to
Bolland was able to implement both (miss him!
) and Raymond looked the most effective with him. McClement can do the cycle (and the rush) and Smith is showing that he can too, as well as D'Amigo. (like this kid). think that would be for the best, we promote from within and it helps our cap-space a bit because Smith can still bounce back and forth, I'm assuming, D'Amigo/Carter can bounce back and forth, and they are all affordable.
and we're still physical, and potentially pot in some goals. Win!
Or as Don would Say.... Beauty!
[Kulemin is my forward wild card. I don't think he's going to stay if we had to choose between Raymond and him - it's just a feeling I have]. And that's where we'll probably see someone move up from Marlie-land if we don't sign someone this summer.
Welcome to the Big Leagues!
I really, really like this kid. I get that it is only two games, and he's probably going to head right back down the minute we get a modicum of health back in our line up - but I think he's doing all the little things. I don't "notice" him - which means he's not doing stupid things. He drew a penalty against Ottawa
thumbu and he looks speedy. I want good things to happen for him.
On the Shelf
Tyler Bozak: Oblique strain went on it Thursday the 5th, so that's 10 games, or 24 days (so we probably won't see him until the Winter Classic, probably).
Dave Bolland: lacerated ankle tendon - gone forever until he's healthy (apparently he can start skating in the next few weeks! yay!)
Joffrey Lupul - day to day now with grade 2 groin pull.
Contract News
on Hotstove for those who missed it - Newsport (Dion's agency) will be meeting with Nonis to hash some stuff re: Dion's contract.
Nothing else to report re: McClement's extension, and Bolland's extension
Player of the Week
this is a weird week because we're playing Sunday - but I don't think this will change. I've got to give it to this guy right here:
He was the bright spot of November - and if I had done a little more research - I would have actually named him the Player of the Month, because - this guy right here: highest point producer! And some game winning goals! Go him! Like D'Amigo - this guy is putting all he's got into every shift - which I love. I really hope he can some how be a permanent fixture on the team (which I think he SHOULD), and let the chips fall as they may.
Congrats oh scruffed one - on being the player of the week
Honourable Mentions go to our 100 shot goaltenders Bernier/Reimer (but this is simply a given now).
Leafs at a Glance
Let me just pull up the schedule right now....
Oh.
Oh..
So.. Yes. This is where we pray, very, very hard, that the Leafs can manage to get some points. (see - this is where the 50 shots a game were coming in handy because I really don't see how this weeks opponents won't get minimum 50 shots).
I also do believe - we do rise to the occasion. I believe we can beat LA. I think we an get a point against the Hawks - it's the Blues that are scaring me.
Wednesday, Dec 11th
@ 
- 7:30est start, TSN - Game Day Thread by Thanier21 Thursday, Dec 12th
@ 
- 8:00est start , Leafs TV - GDT AvailableSaturday, Dec 14th
@ - 7:00 start, HNIC - GDT by RaskYSunday, Dec 15th
HBO 24/7 Starts! Don't forget!
(how in the world did HBO decide "yes - let's SKIP the Ottawa/Leafs game and follow Detroit and Florida. That makes sense!
)See you Next Week!
