"News Team! ASEEEMMBBLLEEE!"
I hate you, Toronto, ON • Canada • 27 Years Old • Male
A Rant
Posted 10:40 PM ET | Comments 18
The only way to possibly heal the emotional wounds this team has caused me is to rant. If I don't, I fear a heart attack is in order for the very near future.
I'll start with an issue that needs to be resolved, an issue that is causing me a loss of hair, an issue forcing me to listen to Simple Plan and lock myself in my room for days. That issue is the goaltending of Vesa Toskala.
Toskala's performance this season has been abysmal; there's no use defending the Finnish goaltender. His struggles are considerably worse than his slow start last season. He's fighting the puck, letting in a number of soft goals, staying deep in his net, and his glove hand has miraculously disappeared, among other problems. His .878 SV% is ranked 41st in the league (3rd last among starting goaltenders) and his 3.24 GAA 37th (6th last among starting goaltenders). Obviously, some major improvement is needed between the pipes.
On the subject, Ron Wilson needs to start playing Joseph. Send Toskala a message by playing CuJo for the full 60 minutes. If he doesn't step up, he doesn't play. It's as simple as that.
The Leafs blew way too many scoring chances against Boston tonight – not to mention the fact they ringed the post five times.
What's up with the D? I like the Leafs' aggressive approach, but the defense is incapable of covering up any of Toskala's shortcomings. On paper, the Leafs possess more defensive defenseman compared to years past, but at this point, it's a meaningless fact because they're playing just as bad.
Why were the Leafs refusing to give the puck to the Bruins during the last minute of play? It would have given them at least another 5 to 10 seconds on the 5-on-3 powerplay.
On a more positive note, perhaps the Leafs are now prepped to accomplish their destiny – plummeting down the standings for a higher draft pick.
Oh and I almost forgot, silly me, Leafs fans are all delusional sheep who are helplessly at the mercy of MLSE.
Was this rant too harsh, matter-of-factly, and in-your-face for your liking? Forward your comments to [email][email protected][/email] and receive a free Aki Berg bobble head! (Sorry, stupid call centers...that's a rant for another day)
I'll start with an issue that needs to be resolved, an issue that is causing me a loss of hair, an issue forcing me to listen to Simple Plan and lock myself in my room for days. That issue is the goaltending of Vesa Toskala.
Toskala's performance this season has been abysmal; there's no use defending the Finnish goaltender. His struggles are considerably worse than his slow start last season. He's fighting the puck, letting in a number of soft goals, staying deep in his net, and his glove hand has miraculously disappeared, among other problems. His .878 SV% is ranked 41st in the league (3rd last among starting goaltenders) and his 3.24 GAA 37th (6th last among starting goaltenders). Obviously, some major improvement is needed between the pipes.
On the subject, Ron Wilson needs to start playing Joseph. Send Toskala a message by playing CuJo for the full 60 minutes. If he doesn't step up, he doesn't play. It's as simple as that.
The Leafs blew way too many scoring chances against Boston tonight – not to mention the fact they ringed the post five times.
What's up with the D? I like the Leafs' aggressive approach, but the defense is incapable of covering up any of Toskala's shortcomings. On paper, the Leafs possess more defensive defenseman compared to years past, but at this point, it's a meaningless fact because they're playing just as bad.
Why were the Leafs refusing to give the puck to the Bruins during the last minute of play? It would have given them at least another 5 to 10 seconds on the 5-on-3 powerplay.
On a more positive note, perhaps the Leafs are now prepped to accomplish their destiny – plummeting down the standings for a higher draft pick.
Oh and I almost forgot, silly me, Leafs fans are all delusional sheep who are helplessly at the mercy of MLSE.
Was this rant too harsh, matter-of-factly, and in-your-face for your liking? Forward your comments to [email][email protected][/email] and receive a free Aki Berg bobble head! (Sorry, stupid call centers...that's a rant for another day)
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whats it like to bleed bleu blanc and rouge?
Toskala is absolutely the least of the Leafs' problems.
Toskala had a bad game tonight, 1st and 2nd goals were poor. 1st was rediculous, the 2nd one was a bad rebound. The Ryder goal i felt was just a good shot.Toskala has come down with a bit of a Raycroft syndrome lately. I can make excuses for why he didn't make the save, but the fact is he isn't making the save. He's not doing his job. Sometimes it's the ones that you don't expect him to get are the ones you really need (and actually do expect him to get, which is kinda an oxymoron)
oh and I want my bobble head :P
The Ryder goal was impossible to stop, except by dumb luck...great shot, screened by Kubina all the way through
Message to shennsational_You are the cause of the demise of the greatest cartoon strip (calvin and hobbes) - he stopped due to people ripping off his images...anywayBurke will tear the team to pieces.
Good rant. I keep telling people that the leafs can't do anything right ... including finishing last to get that all important first pick! :-PP.S. davecox69 - I'm just as big a fan of Bill Watterson as the next guy, but the guy was a bit of a kook. The fact that he was creating 'art' as opposed to the fact that he was drawing a freakin' cartoon supports that. He stood on principles for his 'art' rather than making a boatload of money like Charles Schultz and 'Peanuts'. It had nothing to do with people 'ripping off his images'.
A slow start by Vesa is the least of our worries. We should be happy about the start hoping that it will drop us far enough in the standings, then we can trade him when he starts to go on a surge in the new year.
spic yea
nice rant RG - LOL@rdfred - did you not watch your Canucks be completely outplayed by Toronto on home ice only to get 4 goals on 9 shots and somehow win that game? Toskala will be fine, but, to date, he is the glaring problem on this Leafs team...
Yeah...and Rypien scored 2 goals in his first 3 games, so he's a 50 goal scorer. Rather shallow in your thinking, aren't you? As stated, Toskala is absolutely the least of the problems the Leafs have.
hey rdfred, they have outplayed their opponents pretty much every game - have you watched any? I agree, Toskala will be fine, HUGE fan of his - but, their problem list isnt as long as you are making it out to be.. I would say Van has more issues to worry about.. people who live in glass houses and all right
Cartika: you should read better. I have said nothing about any Leaf problems. I have stated that Toskala is the least of their problems, that's it. Yes, actually I have seen most Leafs games and all Canucks games. I would hardly call it "outplaying" when they're running around defensively like chickens withtheir heads.... One thing about the Leafs this year so far is that they keep going at it and don't give up. As for your statement that the Canucks have more "issues" than the Leafs -- well first off...that's laughable...and secondly it confirms the shallowness of your thinking.
What are your thoughts on Susan Johanson
He's definitely underperforming...but who cares? This year is a write-off anyway. The only down side is it hurts his trade value but we have no idea if Fletcher/Burke would trade him anyway.
rdfred - there is no "shallowness" in my thinking - I have watched enough Canucks games to see they are a team with a spectacular goalie and a tight defensive game - and its paying off.. but, they arent going anywhere without some more legitimate, prime time offense - which is why I imagine they are throwing $20M offers at 38 year old players in semi-retirement. I do agree that Leafs have issues with their defensive zone coverage and I do agree that Toskala is not the source of any problems they have right now. You combine the Leafs offense, with the Canucks D and goaltending and sprinkle in a couple of legit snipers - and now you have something - until then, neither team is going anywhere unfortunately - call it shallow if you want - but, its just the reality of their respective situations..
Well, cartika...you ARE the first person who's ever said that the Canucks need secondary scoring! Actually, their 'secondary' scoring is fine so far this year, but they still need a flat-out scorer (as everybody knows). That's a perfect example of the shallow/one level thinking you're showing.
lol rdfred.. funny, but, I never actually said they need secondary scoring - I see you're still on this "shallow" kick, but, maybe you should worry about comprehension first, as clearly, you require that before commenting on the relative "shollowness" of my comments... I believe I pretty clearly stated they need legitimate prime time offense and snipers - which seems to be clearly different then "secondary scoring" right? so, after all this, we actually agree !! whod have thunk it...