FREE THE LEAFS

HEY BABY WERE GONNA GROW UP ONE DAY

2006-10-04T22:26:00.000-07:00

FREE THE LEAFS

I read the internet posts with some amusement after watching the Senators, barely beat the Leafs. Listen if it had not been for Gerber, the Leafs win hands down. It is hilarious to watch the boo birds, act as if the leafs goose is cooked . These are the same genuises that picked Carolina to finish in last place last year. Yah, they got it scoped. Here is the real truth, pay attention. The leafs are a better team than last year, no question. They played a REAL hockey game, you know with shooting , passing, hitting, pace, like a REAL hockey team does. How many games did I watch in the Quinn Era, that made no sense, they would win, they would lose, who knew why or when or how, it just happened, that flipping leprachaun, he had some sort of magic. But lets face it, this is 20006 ad not b.c. and real hockey coaches match lines. Real hockey coaches, play the players that are playing well; real hockey coaches have a plan, and friends let me bring you the good news- Paul Maurice has a plan. Okay, it is hard to kick heroin, it is hard to leave your lover, and it is damn hard to grow up- I should know. And finally if the creator of the universe is willing the Leafs are going to grow up. Sure there are going to be dirty diapers, sure they will throw tantrums, and maybe once in a while a spanking will be in order. But remember you heard it here , the leafs will contend this year. They will surprise, they will win lots of hockey games, and Leaf fans are going to FINALLY see hockey,yes even tonight, though they lost 4-1 , the Leafs contended all night. They were not outshot- did you hear what I said - they were not OUTSHOT. Mr. Quin never did get that little subtly of the game, you get outshot night after night, and you will lose--- especially in the playoffs!!!!!! Don't get me back on the QWINSTER, he is gone, gone, thank someone. Anyways. what went wrong tonight- Martin Gerber , was all world-- I think we should have snagged him-- but no we go and get Raycroft-- the jury is out, but I did not like what I saw, something has gone wrong with that boy's mechanics and me thinks we will see him on the bench soon watching Aubin, and god forbid Telly. He wasn't horrible, but I didn't like what I saw. My final word is --Leaf fans , there is finally hope, let us move towards the light, and perhaps we will find lord stanleys cup there!!

THE NEW WORLD OR IS IT

2006-07-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

Hiya sports fans, I am back. Did you think I had forgotten you. No , I was just sittin back watchin it all unfold, and yes I did pat my self, get it PAT myself on the back regarding the downfall of the mighty quinn. So where are we now. What the bleep is goin on. Gotta love that Raycroft signing. Yes, yes it makes perfect sense if perhaps you have the IQ of an organic peanut. Lets analyze this; Tukka or Tuuka or smuuka rask, whatever the name, maybe the BEST GOALIE AT THE JUNIOR WORLDS. A number one draft pick, dumped in typical leaf fashion- for who- a goalie, yes granted a former rookie of the year, who had a horrendous, a disgusting , a pathetic season. No, we couldnt go after, Marc Denis, no we couldn't sign Gerber, no we couldn't get Alex Auld, no we couldn't lure Dwayne the man rowlanson or however you spell it from Edmonton, no we couldn't get Dan Cloutier, and GOD forbid we should try to get roberto luongo that would have been a sin. Actually the leafs are on the verge of commiting the number one sin in Hockey, no clear number 1 goalie, I mean look at Edmonton if you need a clue Johnny!! Look at Philapdelphia, look at Tampa Bay, and on and on. The teams that win have a great goalie, it is simple and it ain't rocket science. Okay, he could bounce back and make Fergie look like a genius, but come on a 1st round pick, he could have had Raycroft for a bag of Lays chips and not even the jumbo bag. Sorry , Andrew, I like you and all, but one year a career does not make. The league is littered, and I mean littered with the corpses of one year flashes. I harken you-- like that language-- back to Jim Craig of Washington , from God to Garbage man in a few short years. And there are others, even our own john sebastian aubin was once the darling of Pittsburgh and he played himself right out of the league. I do not like this deal . You know something maybe ferguson should trade pogge as well , -- why not pogge for legace and we will throw in a first round pick-- don't laugh- he is probably doing this deal right now, and if he does do , please join me in the storming of the Air Canada Center, we the fans will revolt and send them all to the Bastille, or maybe just stick them on a slow ferry across lake ontario !!!
The leafs have to grow up one day and stop throwing their young to the wolves, they must develop their talent, they must let the draft picks play. Just take a look at Carolina and Edmonton, loaded with draft picks. I mean just look at Brad Boyes--- everyone knew he was a keeper, even the leafs, but oh no , can't keep him, we need Jeff Oneil, we need Jason Allison, We need Eric Lindros, we need and now the latest war cry is comeback Gary Roberts. Oh give me a break, I know ,lets bring back Clark, and Gilmour and put them all on a line together and maybe just maybe the Chief -- George Armstrong , is he dead? Well that shouldn't stop the leafs, some of the bodies we put in uniforms , really could use some serious rejuvenation. That's enough hate mongering for now. Basically I am a happy camper, can't you tell ? You don't want to see me when I am mad.
I like Paul Maurice, I believe that you will see things out of the leafs that you have never seen before, and I mean skating , passing, intensity, and guys like Sundin, and Ponikarofsky, and yes even Antripov surprising you . But John Ferguson is a bit of a dip stick and from what I can tell, and I do apologize for saying this John, I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but I could do a better job of being GM than you- and as a matter of fact I know alot of people men and women who could put you to shame. Larry if your reading, from one jewish boy to another,- it ain't so complicated, you can figure it out and do yourself a favour Larry, go to Shopsies and have corned beef with a few of your brethern who have been suffering with the leafs for the last 40 years, they'll give you a few tips, and you can still make it in under the cap--okay?. Time to pack it in, will write soon.

THE WAY WE WERE

2006-03-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

Heeee's back--Luke Richardson. This is too priceless. This really tells the story of the Leafs. I remember Luke , a first round pick by the Buds before I got married. The kid had talent, awkward, but there was something there. Cliff Fletcher shows up, and bding, bdang off he goes to Edmonton for Grant Fuhr and some no names- we also gave up Vinnie Damphouse in that deal-- now I am not saying fletcher was not a good Gm -- he got as close to the promised land as anyone has-- but come on Vinnie Damphouse and Richardson for a goaltender whose best years were clearly behind him. And on top of that it just was the same old, same old, -- the Leafs eat their kids. And now at 36 clearly past his best years, we get him back, -- duhhh!!! Look Fergie-- we have seen this all before , Brian Leetch, Glen Wesley, -- why the f--k do you think some old defenseman is going to solve the intrinsic, endemic problems in all of leafdom-- grow up and get a life. You know I wasn't down on Fergie too much and I still believe it is clearly the mighty Quinn who should take the rocket to nowheresville, but you gotta ask yourself what type deal is this-- a 5th round pick or a 4th round pick for this guy-- no way- maybe a 7th round pick. These days draft picks are valuable, very valuable. Now to his credit he did trade Ken Klee to the Devils-- and let me tell you and watch this happen Klee will play well and long for devils and will be valuable. He was poorly used, unappreciated, and as most do did not thrive under the desert storm mentality that exists in the Quinn dressing room -- and for those of you who don't know what that means , just listen to your heart and gut and you will find your way-- or better yet take a good look into Quinn's eyes and tell me there isn't a minor sort of zombie thing going on there. Enough of my psycobabble-- at least in this deal he got a real prospect, a kid, 24, who is ripping up the minors, and has a real shot at the nhl-- who remembers doug gilmour to the devils for steve sullivan -- another good trade, but we all know that steve was a bad boy and quinn showed us by putting him on waivers-- don't get me started. So we sit here on the night before the trade deadline and we can see that Fergie has no real plan, just grab a guy here and there, get older, get younger, try to make the playoffs, try to build for the future, who knows , who cares.... I heard a rumor that Gordie Howe wants to come back...I think I will let fergie know maybe detroit would give him to us for a first or second round pick... we could do it with gordie, I know we could!!!!

remember I predicted this.....

2006-03-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

Okay , it looks bad, very bad, and though no one has even come to my blog or if they have they haven't had the decencey to comment , pro or con... yah my feelings are hurt but I'll survive. So where were we. Here is my latest prediction... the leafs down, almost out embattled, old, hurt, falling apart. But wait... yes there is hope, you watch the LEAFS will make a run for the playoffs. The Leafs never do anything the easy way and finally the s---t has hit the fan so to speak. You know, the Leafs are not a bad team, there is plenty of talent, Mcabe, Kaberle, Sundin, Tucker, Ponikarofsky, Steen, Welwood, Stajan, Oneil, and yes even Eddie can still play. So let me tell you how its gonna go. The Leafs will rally and they will be there on the last week of play gamely fighting to make the playoffs, and maybe they will pull one out for the gipper, one more for Quinn. Remember when Quinn went to cup with Vancouver they had a very average season barely above 500 and then they got hot, very hot. Now I don't predict the same here,,, but I sense something here, the wounded Bear syndrome, pride, Leaf Luck, the weirdest type of luck of all, history, Conn Smythe, the ghost of Punch Imlach... I dunno. There is something in the air and now we shall see if the Leafs are truly dead, or perhaps their rumors of death have been greatly exagerated!!!

HOW FAR DOWN DO WE HAVE TO GO

2006-02-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

Well, I called it. Since no one is reading my blog or letting me know that they are reading it, it is sort of like a tree falling in the forest. Did anyone hear? I am not sure on that one, I will call my local Zen Master for his opinion--god am I funny or what?!! This is a necessary part of the process, things have to get so bad that Larry Tannenbaum and whoever the flip else loves mr quinn, gets the message that 8 years of getting the gears is enuf. The man is old, washed up, and cannot as I have said a million times, coach in the new environment. Sure I have kvetched about Sundin, sure there are some people who are dead weight on the team-- lets try Wade Belak for one. But ya know something, and lets see if time tells the tale on this one-- Wade Belak ain't that bad. neither is Tie Domi, neither is Aki Berg, neither is Ken Klee, neither is Jeff O'neil, and neither is Quinn's latest child whipping boy-- Matt Stajan. They are just poorly coached, poorly motivated, poorly deployed. Lets, take a look back , back in time to the Larry Murphy FIASCO-- who remembers now, poor Larry, couldn't do anything right, poor Larry was washed up , and we just let him go and guess who snapped him up. Mr Bowman, and what did Larry proceed to do. Oh just win 2 or 3 Stanley Cups as the cornerstone, the lynch pin , the straw that stirred the drink, of the Detroit Defense. Duhhh! Hey how did that happen-- was it coaching or perhaps Larry just liked the air quality better in Motown. Look, lets face it, coaching is a big part of the game and our coach ain't doin his part. You can blame Sundin, you can blame Belfour-- who should be sittin out right about now-- you can blame our inexperienced defense , you can blame Zeus-- it ain't gonna help until we deal with the root, the core, and then we may have a chance. With good drafting, good training of the kids, patience, and the willingness to call a spade a spade, my goodness martha, we might actually have a real hockey team one day-- do you think it is possible. This soap opera is getting old. It is time to find some new characters and maybe a new plot and move on. I know that Leaf fans are the most loyal and knowledgeable in all of hockey, but somehow we have been saddled with some pretty dense lads at the toppermost of the poppermost-- perhaps Larry, and Mr. Ferguson, and this weird shadowy guy Richard Peddie, - any relation the the racing car driver-- need to have an IQ test, or perhaps a competency examination by a qualified psychiatrist, I don't mean to be rude or blunt-- but come on boys lets get to it!!!!

the truth hurts

2006-01-26T19:23:00.000-08:00

And now the end is near and I must say not in a shy way-- I told you so-- read it and weep. Oh, there will be those that blame Belfour, or Sundin, or injuries, or the moon not being in the right phase and the Leaf's trainer not doing a good enough job sharpening their skates. But I called it, and I will continue to call it, even if no one is listening, even I am voice in the wilderness, even if the Leafs do what they always do , and trade away the kids--- except this time --- they really can't - can they!!! The cap- oh thank the lord for the cap -- it makes honest men smile and the general managers who survived on buying their way to the top cry. Quinn- CANNOT COACH in this new environment, he has lost the confidence of his players, of the fans, of the media- this losing streak is not a blip, it cannot be corrected. Well, let me rephrase that, it can be corrected, but not by Quinn-- not with the cap, not with the restrictions in terms of physical play. To win you must skate, you must make passes, you must know how to defend, all the players must know their roles, all must be motivated, all must participate in the system, there is no room for silly play-- even if your goaltender is excellent and if your goaltender is having an off night then you must play even better even more disciplined---see Philly-- they don't have a no. 1 goaltender, but many nights they win, inspite of their goalie, and that is because of their brilliant coach. Sorry , you can try to blame the players, you can try to blame the gm, you can try blame whoever the hell you please, but until quinn goes-- the leafs don't !!!!

WHY DOES EVERYONE KNOW THE TRUTH

2006-01-04T23:05:00.000-08:00

Did anyone else see the poll in Slam Sports--- the question--- does the Leafs 6 game win streak make them a legitimate contender for the cup. The answer 84% said NO NO NO!!! Why does everyone know the IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE LEAFS RECORD IS THEY ARE NOT A CUP CONTENDER? Why do they know, because we all understand that this 6 game win streak is just that, a streak, a blip, a moment in time. These are still the same old lovable , crazy Leafs. They don't know why they are winning and they don't know why they lose, it just happens. I must admit, at the risk of contradicting myself that I actually felt quite a little tingle on New Years Eve when they smoked Jersey - 6-3. Here was a game the Leafs were destined to lose. Jersey was in deep trouble and the Leafs were riding high, this was usually the moment the Leafs reached into their bag of tricks and pulled out a big loss. But no, they went down 1-0 and they fought back, yes they fought back, what a concept . The Leafs controlled the play and I could sense that they were going to score , I could sense that they were going to win. I have not had that feeling very often , not since the days of Gilmour and Clark when winning was something that seemed to be somewhat with in the Leafs control. Too often there is a flukeyness to the wins, a quality of - can you believe we pulled that one out of the fire. Alot of fancy skating, and great goaltending, and mistakes that turn into magic- not cup winning stuff. We Leaf fans all know something is missing and I think it is about time that the missing piece was put back in place. I am thrilled that Ferguson has drafted well with Justin Pogge and Tukka Rask- goaltending is the start and end of a great team. I hope that we are seeing the beginning of the building a real team of Leafs, a team that understands its' mission and one that finally gets us to the promised land.

what does this alll mean

2006-01-03T06:08:00.000-08:00

This will be a short post, but to the point. Leafs are winning again. Is Quinn a genius. No, he is lucky. Lucky that at this exact moment he has that indefinable chemistry on his team. Somehow having Lindros and Allison, and Steen out has made it better. Yes , Eddie, is playing better. But it is more than that. This reminds me of what happened when Sundin went down in the playoffs and Roberts and Mcauley carried the Leafs all the way to Carolina. And guess what the master strategist did when Sundin came back. Yes, he tinkered with success and we all know the sad story . Once again, the Leafs fail to make the cup final and lose to a team that had LESS regular season points. The same story that occurred with Buffalo, and of course Los Angeles, in 93 and Vancouver in 94. Does anyone see a pattern here? You mark my words, the Leafs get back to a full lineup and the loses begin to come fast and thick again. Okay, they are good enough and should make the playoffs, but this whole 6 game win streak is no more Quinn's doing than anything else we have seen in the last 8 years. Yes, he can coach, yes , he can win, but can he really think? Can he really move a team to the next level? Does he understand the word CHEMISTRY-- I don't think so.

PULEEASE!!!!-STOP THE TORTURE

2005-12-24T10:14:00.000-08:00

Lets take a quick visit to the game last night dec. 23rd leafs bruins. We win 2-1 both goals scored with 5 on 3 man advantages. Wow!!! leafs can score when they have a two man advantage-- amazing work boys. Quinn gets brain storm re unites the most potent defensive pairing in hockey Mcabe and Karberle and guess what -- yup - it works-- the man is a genius. This game should have been a blow out- it is all too clear what the meaning of ths game is -- the leafs stink -- and they continue to play pathetic hockey and Quinn tinkers when there is no tinkering to be done-- here is one for you pat Lets try putting Sundin on defense and why don't we have Belak centering . It really is about as logical as separating Kaberle and Mcabe. The part that Quinn will never understand is , that you actually have to use your troops in a logical manner, you have to demand performance from your boys and if they don't play the way you want them to- they sit. I for one, believe the Leafs are loaded with talent- underpeforming, undermovitivated talent- but still talent. Hey , lets give Scotty a call and see how he is liking retirement. I guarantee a few months of Scotty and you would see a what the Leafs are really made of, and let me tell you it would not be smoke and mirrors.

trust me

2005-12-23T22:49:00.000-08:00

You can put this one in the bank - unless and I mean unless Belfour turns red hot-- this will be the pattern for the leafs a win here a loss there and it will go on and on and maybe they will sneak into the playoffs, but probably not and if they do , who will be waiting, yes martha, it will be the sens and this time there will be no silly upset. Of course it could happen, just like it could happen that we will win the cup this year-- NOT - anyways, watch the ball-- pat cannot adjust to the new nhl-- no more unlimited budget-- no more sending out the goons in the third period to clear the net-- no more watching Eddie the Eagle steal game after game. No -- eddie is the wounded eagle--- and guess what you must outshoot opponents to win, unless of course Eddie regains his youth and buys pat some more time. Watch Quinn on the after the game videos on TSN or Sports Channel-- he looks like he is lost-- he talks about the plan and what the guys decided they needed to do and blah blah blah. It ain't gonna fly, the year is almost 2006 and Quinn would have been a great coach a genius infact in 1906. Time for the Quinnster to head off to the enchanted forest, grab a pint of the elves brew and dance among the toadstools with King Clancy and the other Irish lads of the past . IT'S OVER BIG GUY--- IT'S OVER!!!!

FREE FALL AND WATCH OUT

2005-12-22T23:19:00.000-08:00

Well it took a while longer than I expected but the free fall is happening. Why-Belfour too old to save their bacon every night. Quinn being outcouched by younger smarter guys who really have a plan, and guess what we can't buy our way out of it this time. So what will be the solution. I expect trades, and if the Leafs follow their old game plan it will be the kids, it will be Wellwood,or Stajan, or Ponikarofsky, or god forbid Steen!!! I know this sounds ridiculous, but the leafs have pulled this move time and time again. At the very worst it should be Sundin- yah trade him while he's still got a few miles on those skates. He is too soft and the team mimicks his softness. And of course we come back to mr. pat. It will take finishing out of the playoffs , and a trade or two before his jig is up,but his jig is up- mark my words. I believe Ferguson is on to him and is biding his time. He has Maurice coaching the Marlies and believe me Maurice is ready to step in any time his name comes up.Also Ferguson has signed that Pogge kid, and has that great Finish prospect that he drafted for our future goaltender. A good move, one the better ones I have seen in many a year from a Leaf Gm. Also the kids are playing , and getting ice time -- again a Ferguson move , I believe if it was up to Quinn, we'd be watching Chad Kilger and Belak, night after night and shift after shift, instead we are getting Colaiacovo- and I can tell you Quinn would not play this kid. He is too green and makes mistakes, but the potential is there and I think Ferguson is leaning on the Quinnster and I donna think the Quinnster likes it- if yah know what I mean. Tonight the Leafs lose to a lousy Boston team, a few more loses and the alarm bells at the air canada center will start ringing like they have not done in the 8 long and painful and sometimes wonderful years Quinn has been at the helm. But those bells will ring and the calls for blood will begin. Will the Leafs think with their brains or will they muddle on doing what Punch woulda done- trade that young talent- get rid of the future, the future is now. Lets examine that one, remember Yashin to the Islanders for who? Spezza-- the future is coming baby, and of course remember Nieuwendyk to Dallas-- what did Calgary get -- you got it -- IGINLA-- the future is for those who think ahead-- how profound!!!

STAJAN COULD GO-/LEAF BAD HABITS AND PATTERNS

2005-12-05T22:38:00.000-08:00

Okay lets get serious about this- here are more predictions- Matt Stajan, he is on the block- that is my gut instinct. Remember how well the kid played in his first year, and then what did Quinn do, he sat him out for most of the playoffs- too inexperienced , yah- we didnt need him when Philly rolled over us like we dreaming about golfing instead of hockey. And now, watch , Stajan doesnt seem to play that much.Somehow Auntypov-- better known as Antripov plays a ton, and man does he look out of it most nights. But you know when you have Allison feeding you beautiful soft passes, even , yes even I could bag a few. But back to Stajan, gritty, intelligent, needs direction, needs to know that he is appreciated, needs to be brought along, but is he floundering-oh yes , he is. Why? The Quinn genius coaching method, just throw them to the sharks and hope they swim. And somehow try to destroy their confidence, very subtly . Play favorites. Put guys on the ice that shouldn't be there , keep guys on the bench that perform for you. But somehow he keeps winning. Let me spell it out for you it goes like this BELFOUR- BELFOUR - BELFOUR. This has been the leafs bottom line- get a great goalie and ride him. Their favorite trick. And for Mr. Pat, without Eddie, the jig is up. The inconsistent play, the weird line combinations, the shenanigans all become exposed and Pat takes his four leaf clover and away he goes. I mean look at Detroit-- without a superstar in net-- sure they are winning but they are vunerable and let me tell you they play a damn nice hockey. Toronto rode CUJO and now it is BELFOUR the improved Cujo , but actually now that cujo is getting coaching from Grant Fuhr, well he is a new man- almost.

Let us Leaf fans begin to pray, pray that Ferguson has a brain in his head, pray that the new CBA shakes up these yahoos enough to understand the importance of developing young talent and sticking with them , and giving them a role, and building a great team from the ground up. Let us pray that no matter what happens this year or next- when Eddie finally sucumbs to old age, that the Leafs don't do the inevitable Leaf trick and package up a bunch of young guys and draft picks in the insane hope that some old savior will bring us to the promised land. I have been waiting , not very patiently since 67 for a cup, and I can feel the energy flowing back into the Leafs. This is not the Ballard Era, thank you , and there is a will to win here. But there are some old habits, some old ways of doing business, that all Leaf fans, the great and intelligent bunch we are, understand must stop, must be buried, and good sound hockey planning must take over.

WATCH OUT FOR THESE BIG TRADES

2005-12-05T04:12:00.000-08:00

Well we have been here before, a young promising team, speed,some nice moves, and sure the coach doesn't know quite what to do with them, but that is Quinn's problem since time immemorial. Now is the time the leafs wil pull a move, maybe not today , maybe not tomorrow but mark my words, they will do it. I will begin speculating on the players that will move and those that should move. It is really sundin that should go. He still has market value and he is getting a bit long in the tooth and short in the hair dept. Only second to Quinn is Sundin's role in the Leafs inability to make the transition to an elite class team. Why you say. Isn't he the player with the most winning goals in the last god knows how many years? Yes it is true, the stats don't lie. But I say , so what. This is a guy who floats most of the time. Sure if it is 1 -1 and there are two minutes left or we are in overtime, he snaps out of it, but for example - when we started falling apart against the Sharks, where was he? Nowhere, and believe me, I have seen this from Sundin over and over again. He is not a real leader- maybe with a Scotty Bowman lighting a fire under his swedish bottom he would have become the player we all know he had the capability of being, a truly great superstar, maybe up there with Sakic or Iginla, or a poor mans Messier-- but instead we got a watered down version of the point a game man. He would only give us tantalizing glimpses of what could have been, and to think we traded Clark at the top of his game and leadership skills for this meatball. Anyways, it is late, I have a cold and so I will sign out soon. But watch out. Watch out for trades the involve the kids Ponikarofsky- I have to get a leaf spelling guide-- sorry about that, watch out for a blockbuster - Steen and Wellwood for Yzerman and Shanahan. I know it sounds crazy but the Leafs love to eat their young who can forget Gary Unger- if your as old as I am, who can forget Rick Kehoe, Steve Thomas, Lanny Mcdonald, Kenny Jonsonn--and of course modin , sullivan, johnston, how about Kevyn Adams, or Brad Boyes, or who could forget the brilliance of the courtnall for kordic trade. See the theme-- young players who are talented must go. Now that may all change, we do have the cap and young players are the only real assets a team has, the only real way of keeping that budget in line. So maybe like the dinosaur my fears will become extinct, but don't count on it.

QUINNS TRADES

2005-11-24T21:40:00.000-08:00

To fully understand the madness that has befalllen the leafs we must look at the trades and the abuse of draft picks. I will do this a little at a time so no one has a heart attack. Let us begin with the dismantling of that wonderful team that took out Philadelphia and lost to Buffalo in 6 games in 2000- or whenever it was. Excuse me if I am off on the specifics but the general thrust of my thoughts will carry the day. First of course Quinn dumps Modin, ah yes Frederick Modin, what was he 20 - 22 -- and what did we get , Corey FLIPPIN Cross, a defenseman who I must admit must have some talent because he is still playing in the NHL, but for Quinn he was a disaster, give aways, slow awkward, much like Quinn himself. This is a theme we will see over and over again with Quinn , he likes , big awkward goons, and dislikes, anyone who is too smart, too small, or too fast a skater. I am generalizing and you know I don't hate Quinn and he is not the only problem in leafdom, but we will tackle all of that later. So we dump Modin, or was it Johnson first, anyways, Mike Johnson, slick, intelligent, loads of potential, years of playing left, but no, he was what? TOO SOFT ON THE PUCk, too good looking, too popular with the young chicks. I don't know, but we didnt need him. I don't even remember what we got for him. And then of course there was Sulllivan, and I have talked about that before, I get a sick feeling whenever I mention his name. Why doesn't the toronto media excoriate Quinn for this one , why don't they bring it up over and over until someone explains this ridiculous decision. I think Sullivan was probably from a competing Irish Clan and YOU know how the Quinns and the Sullivan's have hated each other over the centuries. Hey, it is as good a reason as any!!!! And THEN of course there was Mcauley. Yes , that was a classsic, first he sits the kid on the bench after he fights his way back from concussions. He makes him into a role player, a filler innner, and Mcauley plays well does his job just waiting for his big break. But no big break was coming. Finally the leafs are in the playoffs and they are in trouble. Sundin is gone, Roberts and Mcauley take over carry the team. Mcauley's reward, back on the bench young man, sit and do nothing, because..... well you tell me what it all means virginia!!! Then we send him to San Jose, for the oft injured, near the end of his career, Owen the No can play Nolan, and what happens-- SURPRISE-- he becomes a great addition to San Jose-- didn't he win the Selke Trophy or was he just a finalist, how many goals before the strike year 20 or so-- yes Quinn had his number, he really read that one right. And believe me there is more much more. But we will rest for tonite and continue our tale on another ocassion.

LEAFS BRUINS NOVEMBER 22

2005-11-24T03:30:00.000-08:00

It is the same old story. Leafs OUTSHOT -33-12 after two periods. Belfour has a bad game, leafs loose. I don't watch these games, I don't have a hockey package like some people I know. I don't think my heart could take it. Yes, the Leafs had won 4 games, and I won't go into an analysis of those games here, but I will keep hammering the basic point home. You can't get outshot, you can't play one period a night over and over again and get away with it. I know the leafs will win again, obviously. The talent is too deep and the league though more even overall is full of teams just like the leafs, off and on , off and on. Still it just doesn't cut it . The Leafs are held to a higher standard. We know there will be those nights where you just can't win for trying, but does it take a genius to understand what the Quinnster cannot and will never bring to the Leafs- well does it? No it doesn't. There will NEVER AND I MEAN NEVER be a real sense of team as long as the Quinmeister is coach. Oh they will talk team, they will talk discipline, they will talk short crisp passes, they will talk consistency , they will talk making a run at it, they will TALK TALK TALK. But mark my words, it will never come to pass and believe me this is no biblical prophecy. Who can forget that fabulous game seven or was it game six in Jersey a few years ago , where everything was on the line and the Leafs came out and got 6 SHOTS-- was that a clue, or was that a clue. 6 shots, in a game for all the marbles. The blame must be dropped at the feet of the coach , and we all know who the coach was. BUT Teflonquinn escaped that debacle , how I will never know. MORE later.

LEAFS BRUINS NOV 18TH

2005-11-18T13:50:00.000-08:00

That QUINN he has the luck of freaking Irish. Here is a team that really has not shown that it can keep up with the rest of the NHL. I mean Lindros, Allison, Antripov- or however you spell it. This is a team whose main plan is get the puck out of their zone and dump it in to the other team's zone and then grind and chase and pray that when you throw the puck out front Sundin is there to slam it home. And wouldn't you know it, the top ranked power play. Yes, Scotty Bowman is managing the team from behind the scenes. How does it happen, how does a team that cant really pass the puck or make a play or do much of anything, win game after game, and have the topped rank power play. It is freaking voodoo , irish voodo. Lets look at Tellly, telly the inconsistent, telly the holy. And yet, he stops 15 shots in the first period alone. The leafs are the only team who gets outshot 15 to 1 or 2 or whatever and walk out of a period down a goal or not even down. Look at last saturday in Montreal, 18 shots on the leafs in one period. This is a patttern , it has been happening for years and years and yet the leafs continue this sort of undisciplined play-- excuse me it didnt happen during the Burns years. During Pats day if we took 3 shots a period that was good, but by god, we'd have no more than 3 taken on us. This unbelievable willingness to lie down and be hammered with pucks has cost us the playoffs every year.Every year , Quinn's magic runs out and there is a philadelphia or a carolina, or a buffalo, or a jersey and guess what they out shoot us every game and guess what we loose the series. Doesn't any one at mlg get it. This is not rocket science. Defend, keep the shots down, pass the puck to each other, get skilled players, play smart , play tough, and please dear god please let the kids play. Dont take evey draft choice and destroy or trade them. Oh I can hear it now but what about steen and well wood, -- these guys are self made men, quinn will try to destroy them but with steen he is hooped. He is the next one, the one to follow sundin, and from clark and gilmour to sundin to steen it passed, and before that it was sittler. Hey , the leafs need to get more guys with names that start with s-- whooops -- what happened to SULLIVAN- WAVERS - WAVERS- this is insanity. How did quinn get away with that move. I suggest he be lynched for that unbelievably bad judgement call. What was wrong, Sullivan didnt score enough while he was sitting on the bench. Did sullly wully talk back to big bad Pat. Who knows who cares, it just makes me sick. See you soon.

Why the Leafs are in this mess part 1

2005-11-15T02:17:00.000-08:00

It is 2am on Tuesday November 15th, and I can't sleep. I've been a leaf fan since I was 9 years old, and yes I am old enough to remember their 3 cups wins in a row. I lived in Toronto and Frank Mahovolich - sorry if I spelled the name worng-- lived just down the street from me. I remember riding my bicycle over to his house and getting up the nerve to ring the doorbell, and yes , Frank answered and had a word or two with me. I died when they traded him to Detroit. This of course was after old Punch played psycological warfare games on old Frank's head. And what a brilliant trade that was- I am being sarcastic, as I will be many times in this blog - so get used to it. We gave up, the greatest goal scorer in Leaf history, who after he left the leafs scored 50 goals 2 or 3 times, helped Montreal win a cup or two, played many more years in the league and of course is hall of famer. And we gave up a great rookie- Gary Unger who had a fabulous career as well, Mr. Iron Man. Yah, we got Paul -Mr. 72 - Henderson and Ullman was a slick forward, and I think Floyd Smith was part of that trade, and we probably gave up someone else- these are details and this column, this blog is not about details it is about the truth, it is about what has been happening in Toronto, to the Leafs, the mismanagement, the bad trades, the ineffectual leadership. It is not about sour grapes, it is not a bitch column. I want to FREE THE LEAFS, I want them to return to their rightful place as the greatest team in hockey , and I along with many other intelligent hockey fans from Toronto know what is going on, and we know how to fix it, this is not rocket science.Tonight I lay the groundwork, tonight you can have a taste of what is to come. This blog is not about spelling, and statistics, commas, and periods, it is about things that we as leaf fans need to get off our chests. IT IS TIME, that we spoke out, it is time that stood up as group and revolted against the tyranny that has been imposed on us. We should win the cup on a regular basis, it is our birthright and it is being denied to us by some people who purport to be hockey experts, and claim to have our best interests at heart , but unfortunately they are simply dumb or malicious. In this blog we will call a spade a spade and a heart a heart and so on. I sign off for tonight. But I will return and I will continue to speak my mind on what has happened to our beloved leafs and what needs to be done to fix this nightmare.