Comments on: Good Work, But More To Be Done http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/ Howard Berger and friends talk hockey Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:12:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Marty http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8653 Marty Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:28:03 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8653 In response to post 35: No offense Dougie, but I'm glad your not a member of the College of Cardinals! As for the trades, so far so good. I'm not convinced though, that Giguere is a long term solution in goal. As far as the Leafs being rough and tough, I don't think that's the way to go. Yes, you want players that can protect themselves and make the other team think twice about taking liberties around the net and with your finesse players, but the game, more than ever, has to be won with skill. In response to post 35:

No offense Dougie, but I’m glad your not a member of the College of Cardinals!

As for the trades, so far so good. I’m not convinced though, that Giguere is a long term solution in goal. As far as the Leafs being rough and tough, I don’t think that’s the way to go. Yes, you want players that can protect themselves and make the other team think twice about taking liberties around the net and with your finesse players, but the game, more than ever, has to be won with skill.

]]> By: dougie http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8647 dougie Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:16:51 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8647 I like what Burke is doing so far, need another shake up.Just wait and see Leaf Nation!The next Broad street BULLIES in T.O.(Burkey style)!Before March 3 deadline I predict Kaberle will be dealt to Boston for a first round pick (give it back to us)plus a center player for Kessel maybe Savard.Please God! We have the Pope ( Burke) I like what Burke is doing so far, need another shake up.Just wait and see Leaf Nation!The next Broad street BULLIES in T.O.(Burkey style)!Before March 3 deadline I predict Kaberle will be dealt to Boston for a first round pick (give it back to us)plus a center player for Kessel maybe Savard.Please God! We have the Pope ( Burke)

]]> By: EBH http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8641 EBH Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:02:27 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8641 Why is it that no one seems to take stock of the kid in the QMJHL who is a top 5 scorer in his overage year? Seems to me he can score, seems to me that he is young. Why do people get hung up on what the Leafs MAY lose rather than WHAT THEY HAVE? Fans can be so fickle Why is it that no one seems to take stock of the kid in the QMJHL who is a top 5 scorer in his overage year?

Seems to me he can score, seems to me that he is young. Why do people get hung up on what the Leafs MAY lose rather than WHAT THEY HAVE?

Fans can be so fickle

]]> By: Paul http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8634 Paul Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:31:05 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8634 Over all I like the trade.It leaves the Leafs better defensively but with almost no scoring touch left.I have to wonder if this is really the right approach.Is it not easier to find checkers than it is to find scorers? Over all I like the trade.It leaves the Leafs better defensively but with almost no scoring touch left.I have to wonder if this is really the right approach.Is it not easier to find checkers than it is to find scorers?

]]> By: Paul McDougall http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8633 Paul McDougall Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:20:30 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8633 This was a great trade. Sorry folks, but White and Phaneuf are about as comparable as Lee Stempniak and Ovechkin. The Leafs next move should be to package Poni and Kaberle (if he'll waive the no trade) to another desperate Western team and get another blue chip young player, this time a forward. This was a great trade. Sorry folks, but White and Phaneuf are about as comparable as Lee Stempniak and Ovechkin.

The Leafs next move should be to package Poni and Kaberle (if he’ll waive the no trade) to another desperate Western team and get another blue chip
young player, this time a forward.

]]> By: Larry http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8630 Larry Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:45:34 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8630 Well Howard.. I think it is time to think outside the box. How about Phaneuf to Atlanta for Kovalchuk?? Well Howard.. I think it is time to think outside the box. How about Phaneuf to Atlanta for Kovalchuk??

]]> By: mikeG http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8620 mikeG Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:07:19 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8620 Yes I very much enjoyed watching Ian White develop into a competent NHL defenceman but as was already said at 900,000 a bargain at 3,000,000 maybe a luxury that cant be afforded in a salary cap world. Something else that has not been mentioned is that White was the happiest player to leave, he could'nt wait to get out of here. I hope the fans dont start treating Phaneuf like they did Brian McCabe because there are going to be nights when things go wrong and I think Dion is sensitive to fan reaction. That being said he has been tagged as a franchise type player since his rookie year when he shouldve been the Calder trophy winner. Matt Stajan will be unrestricted free agent in the summer and if the Leafs want him I am sure he would still have Toronto as his 1st choice. The goaltending is solid now for the first time since Eddy the Eagle was deemed too old for the NHL. The monster may be a fine backup time will tell if he will ever be a Stanley Cup stopper and Jiggy has a Conn Smythe under his belt and that is the trade that will show the most instant rewards. I hated the Gerber deal and while I like Kessel I hated the price, but these two trades are A plus deals. I like how some fans are thinking out of the box about moving some defenceman up front Larry Robinson was a helluva good winger before he finally got full time status as a blueliner for Montreal when they were overloaded with top defencemen anything is worth a shot. Yes I very much enjoyed watching Ian White develop into a competent NHL defenceman but as was already said at 900,000 a bargain at 3,000,000 maybe a luxury that cant be afforded in a salary cap world. Something else that has not been mentioned is that White was the happiest player to leave, he could’nt wait to get out of here. I hope the fans dont start treating Phaneuf like they did Brian McCabe because there are going to be nights when things go wrong and I think Dion is sensitive to fan reaction. That being said he has been tagged as a franchise type player since his rookie year when he shouldve been the Calder trophy winner. Matt Stajan will be unrestricted free agent in the summer and if the Leafs want him I am sure he would still have Toronto as his 1st choice. The goaltending is solid now for the first time since Eddy the Eagle was deemed too old for the NHL. The monster may be a fine backup time will tell if he will ever be a Stanley Cup stopper and Jiggy has a Conn Smythe under his belt and that is the trade that will show the most instant rewards. I hated the Gerber deal and while I like Kessel I hated the price, but these two trades are A plus deals. I like how some fans are thinking out of the box about moving some defenceman up front Larry Robinson was a helluva good winger before he finally got full time status as a blueliner for Montreal when they were overloaded with top defencemen anything is worth a shot.

]]> By: Ron Churchill http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8619 Ron Churchill Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:26:41 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8619 You wrote: "Within 20 minutes of the Leafs stomach-churning loss to Vancouver on Saturday night, Toskala was openly yukking it up with Garnet Exelby in the Toronto dressing room. No one is suggesting that a player lapse into bereavement after a hockey game, but there should exist some degree of noticeable regret upon yielding a 3-0 lead on home ice; particularly when you’ve allowed the opposition to score a decisive goal with just 2:04 left in regulation time. If I’ll take one memory of Toskala with me, it’s that he rarely seemed bothered by an alarming defeat." -This is the kind of insight that most fans do not get to see. I understand, as you said, that Toskala is not going to hang his head for hours after a bad game, but 20 minutes... come on. For this reason alone, I am glad to see him go. This is exactly the type of culture that we need to rid this team of. You wrote:
“Within 20 minutes of the Leafs stomach-churning loss to Vancouver on Saturday night, Toskala was openly yukking it up with Garnet Exelby in the Toronto dressing room. No one is suggesting that a player lapse into bereavement after a hockey game, but there should exist some degree of noticeable regret upon yielding a 3-0 lead on home ice; particularly when you’ve allowed the opposition to score a decisive goal with just 2:04 left in regulation time. If I’ll take one memory of Toskala with me, it’s that he rarely seemed bothered by an alarming defeat.”

-This is the kind of insight that most fans do not get to see. I understand, as you said, that Toskala is not going to hang his head for hours after a bad game, but 20 minutes… come on. For this reason alone, I am glad to see him go. This is exactly the type of culture that we need to rid this team of.

]]> By: PaulB http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8615 PaulB Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:28:29 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8615 Forgot the other trade. I mean really, Blake AND Toskala in the same trade? Are you freaking kidding me? In exchange for a guy who Burke and Franky Allaire are very familiar with. A very competitive tender (polar opposite of Toskala) who could help provide a bit of a buffer next year while Jonas continues to develop. Burke for Mayor on that one alone. If he doesn't work out you let him walk after next season. We're not making the playoffs again next year anyway, either by the way. It's called rebuilding. It takes time. So many of you claim to be willing to be patient and give them time then you turn around and freak out when the team misses the playoffs in Burke's first full season as GM. Forget what he said at the beginning of this season about making the playoffs. You guys have been watching this team for years and if, in fact, you knew as much about hockey as you claim, you should have known better and realized that BB was just wishful thinking. Forgot the other trade. I mean really, Blake AND Toskala in the same trade? Are you freaking kidding me? In exchange for a guy who Burke and Franky Allaire are very familiar with. A very competitive tender (polar opposite of Toskala) who could help provide a bit of a buffer next year while Jonas continues to develop. Burke for Mayor on that one alone. If he doesn’t work out you let him walk after next season. We’re not making the playoffs again next year anyway, either by the way. It’s called rebuilding. It takes time. So many of you claim to be willing to be patient and give them time then you turn around and freak out when the team misses the playoffs in Burke’s first full season as GM. Forget what he said at the beginning of this season about making the playoffs. You guys have been watching this team for years and if, in fact, you knew as much about hockey as you claim, you should have known better and realized that BB was just wishful thinking.

]]> By: Leo http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8614 Leo Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:27:41 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2010/02/01/still-lots-of-work-to-be-done/#comment-8614 Howard - Martin Gerber, Olaf Kolzig, Jean-Sebastion Giguere are and will be nothing more than distant memories. It was a complete non impact trade. If possible both teams may have lost. Blake will take up ice time in CA and JSG wants to play which will tick off the Monster and now this summer, the Leafs who were going to play the Monster alot, won't know if he is any good. Bad move. The other trade White for Phaneuf will be indeterminate until Ron Wilson is gone. Without any offence the Leafs needed to bring in a top flight defensive coaching specialist and pay him. They didn't. Lemaire, Dave King or someone of that ilk was required. But the Leafs were toast when they traded the picks for Kessel. There cap situation is being handled unprofessionally. College players are much longer shots than top 1-5 draft picks - look up the history. But it is too late now. Howard - Martin Gerber, Olaf Kolzig, Jean-Sebastion Giguere are and will be nothing more than distant memories. It was a complete non impact trade. If possible both teams may have lost. Blake will take up ice time in CA and JSG wants to play which will tick off the Monster and now this summer, the Leafs who were going to play the Monster alot, won’t know if he is any good. Bad move.
The other trade White for Phaneuf will be indeterminate until Ron Wilson is gone. Without any offence the Leafs needed to bring in a top flight defensive coaching specialist and pay him. They didn’t. Lemaire, Dave King or someone of that ilk was required. But the Leafs were toast when they traded the picks for Kessel. There cap situation is being handled unprofessionally. College players are much longer shots than top 1-5 draft picks - look up the history. But it is too late now.

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