Turning over New Leafs, both me and them
Posted 5:52 PM ET | Comments 0
It's been awhile since I've posted to this blog. I think lack of any readership was the original reason for the absence, then much like the class you skipped too many times in university, I felt apprehensive about coming back. I've decided that there is nothing but time to be lost by continuing to write this, which ironically the blog shows I have too much of. Not to mention that the Burke era Leafs are nothing if not fodder for comment. Readership be damned (I wonder how many professional writers have thought that) I will write anyway. Should no one read it then this blog will simply serve as much needed therapy for the stresses that come with being a loyal fan of the greatest hockey team in the world. Besides my girlfriend has only so much time for my rants about the team, and that time unlike our Stanley Cup drought is growing short.
Seeing as so much has occurred with the Leafs since I wrote here last, I've decided to list 10 brief thoughts on the state of the team, some of the decisions that have been made, and what the future may hold for the Leafs.
1o. Brian Burke probably thinks about how to improve this team in his sleep, and has since we hired him. When the day comes that the Leafs are Stanley Cup contenders again I can promise you it will be chiefly because of his deep need to succeed in anything he does.
9. Luke Schenn is now the 3rd longest serving Leaf, now that's what I call change.
8. I'm not sure if Phaneuf was a dressing room problem in Calgary or not, neither are you by the way. That being said unless he was sacrificing live chickens in there(praise be to Joboo) or hanging naked pictures of other players wives in his locker, I will never understand Calgary's reasons for making the deal. I'm sure glad they did though.
7. Between Bozak, Hanson, Kadri, Gustavsson, Kessel, Komisarek, Beauchemin, Phaneuf, Giguerre and any other Burke additions that may come this summer if this team doesn't make the playoffs in 2011, we are in serious trouble.
6. We won the Kessel trade, at the time, tomorrow, and 3 years from now. That's regardless of where the picks are, and contrary to popular belief Boston picking in the top 5 this year is far from a lock.
5. Anyone who thinks that Burke did not factor the chance of our picks being lottery picks into the Kessel trade is an idiot. It is a risk he considered, and made the trade anyway. Get over it, it will one day prove to be a steal of a trade.(see #6)
4. With all due respect to Savard's current circumstances, and with best wishes for a speedy recovery, I hope the debate over Kessel needing him to score is over. With 27 goals in a mere 59 games, I'm convinced Kessel could score if you sent him on the ice with a garden hoe, and blindfolded.
3. This team doesn't always win but it is rare that they aren't exciting to watch based on their level of effort alone. As the saying goes, this team doesn't have enough talent to win on talent alone, fortunately for us they don't try to either.
2. If I told you at the start of January the Brian Burke would not only manage to trade Jason Blake & Vessa Toskala , but would send them to the same team you would have had me committed. As well you should have too.
1. As this season winds down, I'm already very excited about next year. The Leafs are the youngest team in the league, all evidence the JFJ ever happened has essentially been erased, and for all the changes Burke initiated we all know he is far from finished. For the first time in a long time Leaf fans can say "wait till next year" and the rest of the league would do well to listen.
As to turning over a new Leaf myself, I'm going to try and write here once a week. I think Burke's Leafs will give me plenty to talk about, and that should help me achieve this goal. So should publicly posting it on this blog, even if there's no one to read it.
Prediction for tonight Leafs 3 Habs 1
Seeing as so much has occurred with the Leafs since I wrote here last, I've decided to list 10 brief thoughts on the state of the team, some of the decisions that have been made, and what the future may hold for the Leafs.
1o. Brian Burke probably thinks about how to improve this team in his sleep, and has since we hired him. When the day comes that the Leafs are Stanley Cup contenders again I can promise you it will be chiefly because of his deep need to succeed in anything he does.
9. Luke Schenn is now the 3rd longest serving Leaf, now that's what I call change.
8. I'm not sure if Phaneuf was a dressing room problem in Calgary or not, neither are you by the way. That being said unless he was sacrificing live chickens in there(praise be to Joboo) or hanging naked pictures of other players wives in his locker, I will never understand Calgary's reasons for making the deal. I'm sure glad they did though.
7. Between Bozak, Hanson, Kadri, Gustavsson, Kessel, Komisarek, Beauchemin, Phaneuf, Giguerre and any other Burke additions that may come this summer if this team doesn't make the playoffs in 2011, we are in serious trouble.
6. We won the Kessel trade, at the time, tomorrow, and 3 years from now. That's regardless of where the picks are, and contrary to popular belief Boston picking in the top 5 this year is far from a lock.
5. Anyone who thinks that Burke did not factor the chance of our picks being lottery picks into the Kessel trade is an idiot. It is a risk he considered, and made the trade anyway. Get over it, it will one day prove to be a steal of a trade.(see #6)
4. With all due respect to Savard's current circumstances, and with best wishes for a speedy recovery, I hope the debate over Kessel needing him to score is over. With 27 goals in a mere 59 games, I'm convinced Kessel could score if you sent him on the ice with a garden hoe, and blindfolded.
3. This team doesn't always win but it is rare that they aren't exciting to watch based on their level of effort alone. As the saying goes, this team doesn't have enough talent to win on talent alone, fortunately for us they don't try to either.
2. If I told you at the start of January the Brian Burke would not only manage to trade Jason Blake & Vessa Toskala , but would send them to the same team you would have had me committed. As well you should have too.
1. As this season winds down, I'm already very excited about next year. The Leafs are the youngest team in the league, all evidence the JFJ ever happened has essentially been erased, and for all the changes Burke initiated we all know he is far from finished. For the first time in a long time Leaf fans can say "wait till next year" and the rest of the league would do well to listen.
As to turning over a new Leaf myself, I'm going to try and write here once a week. I think Burke's Leafs will give me plenty to talk about, and that should help me achieve this goal. So should publicly posting it on this blog, even if there's no one to read it.
Prediction for tonight Leafs 3 Habs 1