Leafs @ Panthers - Jan. 26th, 7:30pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[Frank E]

You want stats?  Ferguson traded away young assets for either rentals or veterans.  Burke traded away young assets for semi useless players like Kessel.  Cliff Fletcher traded away young assets.  So that's 3 for 3 of the last 3 general managers of the Leafs.  I'm sure it goes back further than that as well, that's just based on recent memory.

So my stats are that over the past 10 years 3 out of 3 general managers have wasted our young talent so that we could make a run at the playoffs.  Then we would suck just badly enough to not make the playoffs and we would get a crappy draft pick.  For years.  And you need me to explain this to you?  Have you not been following the team?  Are you here in body only?  Please enlighten us.

The only decent brain child that the Leafs have had since I have been watching was Pat Quinn.  And oh yes, they fired him.  Look what happened afterward.

I mean, none of those guys are Shanahan. And none of them publicly stated their intention to have a potentially long and painful rebuild. Just seems weird that you're expecting them to do a complete 180 on their plan based on nothing.

Nothing?  Nick fking Spaling has been activated from the IR. That's not nothing.

 

[ZBBM]

0 shots in the first 13 minutes. Isn't that like 4 games in a row something like that's happened now?

Yup.  But they just broke out with 1.  Luckily for FLA it just hit Luongo and woke him up.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Nothing?  Nick fking Spaling has been activated from the IR. That's not nothing.

True. If they re-sign him I will quit being a Leafs fan.

(To be clear, I am kidding but he has truly been awful as a Leaf)

 

[ZBBM]

You want stats?  Ferguson traded away young assets for either rentals or veterans.  Burke traded away young assets for semi useless players like Kessel.  Cliff Fletcher traded away young assets.  So that's 3 for 3 of the last 3 general managers of the Leafs.  I'm sure it goes back further than that as well, that's just based on recent memory.

So my stats are that over the past 10 years 3 out of 3 general managers have wasted our young talent so that we could make a run at the playoffs.  Then we would suck just badly enough to not make the playoffs and we would get a crappy draft pick.  For years.  And you need me to explain this to you?  Have you not been following the team?  Are you here in body only?  Please enlighten us.

The only decent brain child that the Leafs have had since I have been watching was Pat Quinn.  And oh yes, they fired him.  Look what happened afterward.

I mean, none of those guys are Shanahan. And none of them publicly stated their intention to have a potentially long and painful rebuild. Just seems weird that you're expecting them to do a complete 180 on their plan based on nothing.

Nothing?  Nick fking Spaling has been activated from the IR. That's not nothing.

It's way more than not nothing.  It's almost all the way to something.

 

[L K]

You want stats?  Ferguson traded away young assets for either rentals or veterans.  Burke traded away young assets for semi useless players like Kessel.  Cliff Fletcher traded away young assets.  So that's 3 for 3 of the last 3 general managers of the Leafs.  I'm sure it goes back further than that as well, that's just based on recent memory.

So my stats are that over the past 10 years 3 out of 3 general managers have wasted our young talent so that we could make a run at the playoffs.  Then we would suck just badly enough to not make the playoffs and we would get a crappy draft pick.  For years.  And you need me to explain this to you?  Have you not been following the team?  Are you here in body only?  Please enlighten us.

The only decent brain child that the Leafs have had since I have been watching was Pat Quinn.  And oh yes, they fired him.  Look what happened afterward.

I mean, none of those guys are Shanahan. And none of them publicly stated their intention to have a potentially long and painful rebuild. Just seems weird that you're expecting them to do a complete 180 on their plan based on nothing.

Nothing?  Nick fking Spaling has been activated from the IR. That's not nothing.

Nick Spaling - 2 minutes for interference
Nazem Kadri - 0 goals

At least Spaling does something

 

[LuncheonMeat]

I hate to be that guy, but pretty surprised to see so many empty seats here. I read that Florida was having some pretty good attendance numbers lately with how well they've played, and Toronto is usually a pretty good draw there.

One of Florida's people was on (the Fan?) this morning and the attendance question was brought up. His response was Tuesday night + Leafs was not really a big draw. Based on the Leafs' play this year, it's tough to argue with.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I hate to be that guy, but pretty surprised to see so many empty seats here. I read that Florida was having some pretty good attendance numbers lately with how well they've played, and Toronto is usually a pretty good draw there.

One of Florida's people was on (the Fan?) this morning and the attendance question was brought up. His response was Tuesday night + Leafs was not really a big draw. Based on the Leafs' play this year, it's tough to argue with.

Ah yeah for a split second I guess I forgot the Leafs were awful.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Babcock better be on the bench telling the guys they're going to need 2 shots if they're going to win tonight.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

SIGN HIM NOW

 

[ZBBM]

You want stats?  Ferguson traded away young assets for either rentals or veterans.  Burke traded away young assets for semi useless players like Kessel.  Cliff Fletcher traded away young assets.  So that's 3 for 3 of the last 3 general managers of the Leafs.  I'm sure it goes back further than that as well, that's just based on recent memory.

So my stats are that over the past 10 years 3 out of 3 general managers have wasted our young talent so that we could make a run at the playoffs.  Then we would suck just badly enough to not make the playoffs and we would get a crappy draft pick.  For years.  And you need me to explain this to you?  Have you not been following the team?  Are you here in body only?  Please enlighten us.

The only decent brain child that the Leafs have had since I have been watching was Pat Quinn.  And oh yes, they fired him.  Look what happened afterward.

I mean, none of those guys are Shanahan. And none of them publicly stated their intention to have a potentially long and painful rebuild. Just seems weird that you're expecting them to do a complete 180 on their plan based on nothing.

Nothing?  Nick fking Spaling has been activated from the IR. That's not nothing.

Nick Spaling - 2 minutes for interference
Nazem Kadri - 0 goals

At least Spaling does something

Kadri read that on the bench, and responded.

 

[L K]

I hate to be that guy, but pretty surprised to see so many empty seats here. I read that Florida was having some pretty good attendance numbers lately with how well they've played, and Toronto is usually a pretty good draw there.

One of Florida's people was on (the Fan?) this morning and the attendance question was brought up. His response was Tuesday night + Leafs was not really a big draw. Based on the Leafs' play this year, it's tough to argue with.

Ah yeah for a split second I guess I forgot the Leafs were awful.

Who's the awful team now?  I'm sick of you condescending Panthers fans coming on a Leafs website.

 

[Sudafederov]

Wow! Mr. Kadri wearing a Leafs jersey (lifelong Habs fan), never thought I'd see that!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What a strange fight.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

What a strange fight.

Even their fights are terrible.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Important: Montreal is down 2-0 to Columbus after the 1st.

 

[sickbeast]

You want stats?  Ferguson traded away young assets for either rentals or veterans.  Burke traded away young assets for semi useless players like Kessel.  Cliff Fletcher traded away young assets.  So that's 3 for 3 of the last 3 general managers of the Leafs.  I'm sure it goes back further than that as well, that's just based on recent memory.

So my stats are that over the past 10 years 3 out of 3 general managers have wasted our young talent so that we could make a run at the playoffs.  Then we would suck just badly enough to not make the playoffs and we would get a crappy draft pick.  For years.  And you need me to explain this to you?  Have you not been following the team?  Are you here in body only?  Please enlighten us.

The only decent brain child that the Leafs have had since I have been watching was Pat Quinn.  And oh yes, they fired him.  Look what happened afterward.

I mean, none of those guys are Shanahan. And none of them publicly stated their intention to have a potentially long and painful rebuild. Just seems weird that you're expecting them to do a complete 180 on their plan based on nothing.

You could be right.  I really hope you're right.  We will see.  I have become this disenfranchised, however, after watching season after season of the Leafs playing terrible hockey.  Last season was the back breaker for me.  After watching them at the end of last season I gave up all hope as a fan.  I used to watch every game but now I just catch the odd one here and there.  And that is probably going to be the way it is for the next several years until they can climb out of the basement.  There is that question though.  At what point will the Leafs become a buyer at the trade deadline?  Will they wait until they are a legitimate cup contender before they trade away more young assets?  This is all unknown at this point.  I do question, however, whether ownership actually pressured Burke and Ferguson into trying to make the playoffs come what may.  We will see how this all pans out.  I am not holding my breath and I have largely turned my back on the team until they can show me they are worth watching again.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Important: Montreal is down 2-0 to Columbus after the 1st.

Columbus beat them 5-2 last night as well. That's rough.

 

[L K]

Important: Montreal is down 2-0 to Columbus after the 1st.

Buffalo tied 1-1 with Ottawa too.

A Leafs loss + a Buffalo point + A Columbus win =

Toronto 43 points - 13 wins
Buffalo 43 points - 18 wins
Columbus 43 points - 16 wins
Edmonton 43 points - 15 wins

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Important: Montreal is down 2-0 to Columbus after the 1st.

Buffalo tied 1-1 with Ottawa too.

A Leafs loss + a Buffalo point + A Columbus win =

Toronto 43 points - 13 wins
Buffalo 43 points - 18 wins
Columbus 43 points - 16 wins
Edmonton 43 points - 15 wins

Pittsburgh's up 1-0 on New Jersey too. If they win they'll pass the Devils for the 2nd wildcard spot.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

You want stats?  Ferguson traded away young assets for either rentals or veterans.  Burke traded away young assets for semi useless players like Kessel.  Cliff Fletcher traded away young assets.  So that's 3 for 3 of the last 3 general managers of the Leafs.  I'm sure it goes back further than that as well, that's just based on recent memory.

So my stats are that over the past 10 years 3 out of 3 general managers have wasted our young talent so that we could make a run at the playoffs.  Then we would suck just badly enough to not make the playoffs and we would get a crappy draft pick.  For years.  And you need me to explain this to you?  Have you not been following the team?  Are you here in body only?  Please enlighten us.

The only decent brain child that the Leafs have had since I have been watching was Pat Quinn.  And oh yes, they fired him.  Look what happened afterward.

I mean, none of those guys are Shanahan. And none of them publicly stated their intention to have a potentially long and painful rebuild. Just seems weird that you're expecting them to do a complete 180 on their plan based on nothing.

I do question, however, whether ownership actually pressured Burke and Ferguson into trying to make the playoffs come what may.

Burke answered this himself recently. He mentioned that he thought having Kessel would help him speed up the process of being a contender. He also said in hindsight that he wished he had taken his time and not rushed into things. He never implied that anyone made him do anything, and it was fairly public that he had autonomy. It seems like Burke has learned his lesson and seems to be going down a different road in Calgary.