Toronto Maple Leafs Diary: October 27th, 2011

Toronto Maple Leafs Diary

BFin

Toronto vs. New York (NYC, NY)

Thursday October 27th, 2011

Bets:

Drink: Crown + Diet

State of Dress: Shorts and Tee, every ladies dream.

Location: Toronto, Ontario.

Mood: Quietly optimistic

Introduction

The Toronto Maple Leafs take on the New York Rangers in the newly renovated and hopefully rat-free Madison Square Garden in beautiful Downtown New York. James Reimer was placed on Injured Reserve this afternoon with concussion-like symptoms (so…a mild concussion) and Ben Scrivens was re-called from Toronto to back-up Der Monster. Nazem Kadri is the odd man out tonight and has been sent back to Toronto to get some time in with the Marlies. For more on my take of the Kadri demotion have a quick read of my blog from earlier today Kadri is Walking a Fine Line. The Leafs once again get great odds tonight so if you like upsets and are feeling one tonight, get your bets in now.

Pre-Game

- I missed most of the pre-game so that I could do some cardio and keep my body from shutting down due to all of this Leafs Diary drinking. That’s pretty much everything I have to say about the pre-game.

- Is it just me or does it sound like Marc Crawford just got punched in the throat every time he speaks on the TSN panel?

- The TSN panel is right, Dion has been the best player on the Leafs this season. Is he back to his old form? Let’s collectively hope!

1^st Period

- Read an article today that said that despite the renovations to MSG the ice is still the same old garbage that they have been playing on for decades. Perhaps not hosting a circus, NBA games (won’t have to worry about that one this year), political rallies, and concerts during the NHL season isn’t the best thing for the ice surface?

- Mr. Glass (Tim Conolly) is in the lineup tonight. I don’t fault him for having a body made of paper mache and I don’t think his contract is all that horrible considering it is short term, so we will leave Mr. Glass alone tonight. I will continue calling him Mr. Glass so remember the reference.

- I think Mike Johnson owns two suits.

- Looks like the same old shitty MSG to me.

- WOW! Did you hear that? Kadri got demoted to the AHL just as the Marlies were set to go on a 9 game, 18 day road trip. If that doesn’t get him thinking about working harder on his mental and defensive game…I don’t know what will. Maybe the pay cheque difference.

- I debated making a joke relating the anthem singers shaking to Michael J. Fox but decided not to since it would be in bad taste. Whoops.

- Looks like they have decided to install lights in the ‘new’ MSG so that you can actually see white ice instead of the stuff that looked like the ice in your community parking lot. Green boards anyone?

- Franson still out. Komisarek and Liles still together. Ron Wilson makes it too easy on me.

- Despite the fact that McCarthur only has 1 point in 5 games I still feel confident that he will hit his stride and get back to where he was last year. His competitiveness (Not fucking compete level you NHL pundit morons) is way too high to not hit his stride.

- Der Monster let’s in a stinker. Shock and awe comes over the crowd. I guess we can add 5-hole to his ever growing list of deficiencies.

- Ron Wilson said before the game that Gustavsson has played quite well in New York. I believe he has allowed 12 goals on his last 63 shots for a whopping save percentage of .809 in NYC. Does Ron Wilson even look at stats before making asinine statements like that?

- No goal on another Callahan interference.

- Brandon Prust is one of the nicest guys you are ever going to meet in the NHL. I met him a couple of times when he played with Quincey in London and he defied the whole OHL player mentality. Seriously, great guy and I hate the Rangers.

- THE FUCK KOMISAREK!?! I was trying not to rip on the man tonight but you just cleared the puck like your first name was Miley not Mike. It’s a PK!!! GET IT THE FUCK OUT!

- Dupuis, Steckel and Brown is a VERY good fourth line. This is the type of line you need to succeed in the playoffs, not one with a plug like Orr or Rosehill on it.

- Great hit by Komisarek and smart idea to not get into a scrap on a 4 on 2 for the Leafs. Good job. See?!?! I can be nice to him.

- Despite being down a goal here we have to feel good about the outcome of that period since we could conceivably be down 3 goals after this debacle.

Second Period

- Skipping intermissions to give myself to time to get a drink, respond to my girlfriend’s txt and relieve myself. Please don’t take it personally all 12 of you reading this.

- 5 on 5 to start the second period. Looks like the ice has finally frozen over in hell (MSG)

- LOMBARDI with a LOMBEAUTY!!! Yah I just made that up. Why are all the Leafs fans in New York hipsters or nerds? Oh yah…because most of New York is filled with assholes.

- Wow Mike Brown just destroyed Mike Newbury like Newbury was playing for the Maple Leafs.

- Mike Johnson has jumped all aboard Lombardi’s crotch after he gets his fourth point in 9 games. Shit, even I could pick up an NHL commentator with my stats.

- LOL a ‘Go Leafs Go’ chant at the opening of MSG. Embarrassing.

- Monster and the King with dueling pad saves. This game has finally settled down into a proper pace.

- Wow, Mike Johnson has obviously been brushing up on his adjectives. He just referred to the ice as “bumpy…it’s……….not…not very good….not very smooth” thanks Mike, now we know why they pay you the big bucks.

- First time I have heard the name Schenn tonight. Odd.

- Where is the pause button on this damn game? My bladder can’t handle it.

- The only Mr. Glass actually doing something tonight is Tanner Glass…and he plays for the Jets.

- Grabo just robbbbbbed by Mike Sauer. Shit. No luck. That was a Julie ‘The Cat’ Gafney like save out of no-where.

- I love the pairing of Schenn and Gardiner. Schenn could really give Gardiner a lot of current advice on what it takes to break into the league successfully. Kudos to Wilson on that decision, even if it comes with Komisarek-Liles as a combo.

- Lundqvist owns Kessel.

- Don’t really know how that didn’t go to a review at the very least. Two guys lying in the crease and none of them used a hand?

- Gunnarsson has been as invisible as Schenn tonight. I don’t know whether that is a good or bad thing for either of them?

- At the end of two periods we are tied up after forty minutes. Leafs had a better second period tying it up but they have not been impressive on the offensive end to this point. Lombardi’s goal was weak and Kessel can’t seem to get the puck off of the ice on a breakaway.

Third Period

- So glad I bought MS Office Pro for this. Word auto-formatting for the win. Enough of the nerdery, back to the game!

- Lundqvist can stop shots he can’t see. Just robbbbed Lupul on a beauty toe drag wrister.

- LUPUSSSSS!!!!! On his game this year. That Toronto shopping must be pleasing him a lot more than Anaheim. Until that replay I didn’t even know Connolly was still in the game.

- WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT MCCARTHUR EARLIER?!?!? Read back! Effort pays off for him finally. Thanks for the gift Henriq. Didn’t realize we gave them Monster at intermission.

- If the Leafs can manage to put one away on this power-play it would really go a long way to securing Gustavsson’s confidence.

- Dan Girardi taking harder shots to the chest than (insert porn skank here)

- Don’t think I have ever seen a power-play that ran with three forwards up high in the umbrella. Someone tell one of our forwards to un-tuck their balls and get to the front of the net.

- Komisarek bails on coverage in front of the net to go challenge a guy at the blue line on a 3 on 2. Yes I’m sure Franson would have been much worse than this…

- Mikey ‘knuckles’ Brown deserved that one! Assist for the first Gordie Howe hat-trick of his career.

- I have Del Zotto in my keeper league. A little bittersweet. Provided they don’t score another goal I am completely fine with it.

- Highlights from this Jets game could be from the WHA days. Sixteen goals, are you kidding me?

- This is a big win for the Leafs. I am sure it will do a lot for Gustavssons confidence, I just don’t know why. He has fought it all night but he has not given up on this game which is a positive sign. Kudos need to be given to the Leafs defence for keeping everything to the outside of the ice after the first period.

Conclusion

The Good – Clarke McCarthur. As I mentioned earlier, I thought that his effort was way too much for him not to start putting them in the net sooner or later. He finally got off the snide tonight and ruined the debut of the same old MSG.

The Bad – Tough call on this one. The Leafs played well collectively after the first period so I don’t know how to gauge this one. Let’s say the bad is the Rangers fans not being able to enjoy this game tonight. It was the debut of your new rink, loosen up the neck tie and get loud.

Overall – I was quietly optimistic. I placed a long-shot double bet on the Leafs and Habs (ugh) and pulled it off. Good win for the Leafs. Good win for me. It was a good night. I hope you enjoyed the read, comments or questions are welcome on here or on my twitter account.

Stay tuned for the next Leafs diary on Saturday, October 30^th as the Leafs take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

BFin

www.twitter.com/bfinley84

Don’t forget to check out PK’s Puck Blog for CHL and NCAA information. The guy is a doozy!

Nazem Kadri is Walking a Fine Line

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Nazem Kadri was sent down to the minors today when it was determined that James Reimer was unable to go and Ben Scrivens was re-called. I personally believe that Kadri's free-ride as the top Leaf prospect is over. From here on out he is going to have to earn his playing time in the NHL by maturing, refining his game in the minors, and developing his abundant skill-set into an NHL skill-set. Kadri was given a shot (albeit brief) early in the season to play with the Leafs. Through 3 games Kadri had posted 1 assist and 2 penalty minutes...nothing mind-blowingly good or bad in this case. Kadri's biggest disappointment seems to have come this alleged middle finger to a camera man during a Leafs scrum with Clarke McCarthur:


If he was in fact giving the finger to a camera man it shows that he has not matured one iota since his days in the OHL. Personally, I don't know whether he did give the finger to someone, he was pulling the old 'eyebrow scratch', or whether he just felt like rubbing his forehead...but the fact that he was sat after the game and now sent down to the minors speaks volumes for what management thought of his actions. As we have seen, his stat line and play early on hasn't been that bad, so one has to conclude that Burke and his team feel it is his attitude that needs re-adjusting.

Kadri is now walking that fine line between 'top prospect' and 'head-case' within the Leafs organization. Not helping Kadri's cause is the inspired play of Joe Colborne with the Toronto Marlies, who appears to have embraced his time in the minors as a period to figure out how to become a dominant NHL center iceman. Colborne has quietly gone down and led the league in scoring with 15 points in a mere 7 games. Impressive stuff for a kid who wasn't even a point-per-game player in the AHL last year.


In speaking with Terry Koshan in his Toronto Sun piece Colborne said “I got the first taste of it last year (when he had an assist in his lone Leafs appearance) and it lights a fire in your gut to get back there”. This is the attitude that successful prospects and players have. The desire to get better. The desire to win. The desire to be the best and be at the top level. Colborne is now pushing into that top prospect spot. So are Matt Frattin (NHL), Jake Gardiner (NHL), Stuart Percy (OHL) and Tyler Biggs (shudder), leaving Kadri trailing behind as the entitled kid that thinks he deserves more. At some point Kadri will have to turn that desire in to some form of effort and drastically change his attitude or else he will be left behind in the AHL to sulk and give the finger to Rogers Cable 10 reporters.

-BFin
www.twitter.com/bfinley84

Stay tuned tonight for the Leafs Diary following the game.

Don't forget to visit the PK Puck Blog for info on the OHL, NHL and more! He's a real doozy.

Toronto Maple Leafs Diary: October 24th, 2011

Toronto Maple Leafs Diary
BFin
Toronto vs. Philadelphia (Philly, PA)
Monday October 24th, 2011

Bets: All Upsets - WIN, TOR + FLO
Drink: Crown Black + Coke
State of Dress: Maple Leafs socks. Moccasins. Hoodie.
Location: Toronto, Ontario.
Mood: Pessimistic

Introduction:
The Leafs continued their hot start on Saturday with a comeback win against the hated Montreal Canadiens. Grabovski once again played some of his bets hockey in Montreal and picked up the OT winner against his former teammates. Philly comes into this game as the losers of two straight in what will surely be over-hyped as the battle of Schenn vs. Schenn. Reimer being out of the lineup should hurt the Leafs tonight, especially if Philly has decided to shoot at the Monsters glove, like the rest of the league. For all those gamblers out there, if you feel like the Leafs have a good shot tonight they are getting very good underdog odds at this point. Something to consider.

Leafs TV Pre-Game:
- Please don't have Andy Petrillo, please don't have Andy Petrillo. NO PETRILLO! YESSSS! Thank you Leafs TV.
- Mood has now been upgraded to optimistic.
- Leafs TV needs to develop some more pre-game montages, I love Wendel but I have seen this same video three times already this season. It's like BET with Notorious or Cuba Gooding Jr movies on TBS.
- Was that a commercial for a James Reimer collection?
- Only a city like Philly would be dumb enough to leave up a statue for a fictional character (Rocky) because Stallone 'donated' it after the film was done. How long until our Love Guru statue goes up for Mike Myers??
- Lupul looks to be in very good shape after getting an off-season and training camp this season. Pretty well spoken individual as well, nice throw in to the Gardiner deal!
- Very happy that Leafs TV has decided to go with HD for all of their broadcasts. Their SD was atrocious.


1st Period
- This should be a tough one tonight. Philly is going to be hungry.
- Every single rink in the NHL does O'Canada better than the ACC. We need more organ and more powerful singers to get the crowd pumped up.
- Nik Kulemin displaying his rain man like game face during the anthems.
- I see that Ron Wilson has gone back to the ever so reliable tandem of Liles and Komisarek. Kill me now.
- Kessel and Lupul just will not quit! We all know he's not a 160 point player, but where does this start place him for the rest of the season?? What an absolute snipe that was when you see it from the net cam.
- If anyone can explain to me how the addition of Jagr is better for your club than having Mike Richards I would be really inclined to listen.
- The intelligence of Flyers fans is once again on display as they do not understand the follow through rule. Next up, drunk fat guy falling into the penalty box 2.0.
- That was one hell of a few plays for Dupuis. Excellent speed and a very responsible center.
- "Jagr walks right around Komisarek"...seriously?!?! JAGR IS THE SLOWEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE AND MIKE KOMISAREK CAN'T KEEP UP WITH HIM!?!?!?
- Liles...what the fuck.
- 'YAYYY Multi-culturalism!' - A Leafs TV short.


2nd Period
- I want to say my true feelings about Chris Pronger, but all the best.
- The ever intelligent commentators on Leafs TV currently having a spirited debate as to whether Nik Kulemin is built like a 'wall' or a 'mack-truck'. I disagree with both assessments and say that he is built like a mouth-breathing Russian, whom I love having on the Leafs.
- MMMM now they're talking about Jagr's large posterior and big legs. This commentary is taking a turn for the awkward.
- McCarthur having his best game of the season tonight.
- Frattin makes Meszaros his bitch. Well done kid.
- Kessel's saucer pass is NHL12 good right now.
- WOW. So that's why they call him the Monster. Jagr who?
- Very happy that Bowen has decided to stop calling Wayne Simmonds, 'Simons'.
- Oh Mike Komisarek, when will you ever do anything to make me want to like you. I guess I have to ask myself what's worse, a man dis-advantage because of Mike Komisarek or having Mike Komisarek out on the ice?
- Unlucky for Gustavsson. Did everything but hold onto that one.
- what is a talBOT?
- So far the Schenn vs. Schenn battle has proven about as exciting as a Kenny vs. Spenny episode. S
- 'YAYYYY MORE MULTI-CULTURALISM!!!!' - A second Leafs TV short
- Jerry D'Amigo uses the word 'umm' more than I use vowels.


3rd Period
- Need this for Monster. He's played very well.
- Once again a player is allowed to go in alone becuase of Mike Komisarek and then after the play Briere slashes Monster in the head. Seriously, unless Franson gives Monster herpes what more could he do to the man to make this worse?!?!
- Gunnar and Gardiner can't play together on the PP because neither is a shooter.
- Kadri is not going to earn himself icetime by banging his stick on the ice.
- Fuck.
- Hi Leafs Fans, I'm Mike Komisarek. I just wanted you to all know that I would not be covering anyone in the defensive end for you the entire season! Keep watching and Happy Halloween.
- We ran Larry Murphy out of town but yet Mike Komisarek still wears an 'A'...
- FLUKES BE DAMNED! I WILL TAKE IT! Steckel's third goal of the season. Astute acquisition.
- Mike Komisarek appears to be sitting again during this third period. Two periods too long.
- The talBOT returns
- Random commercial anger. Does the B in B.E.L.T not stand for bacon considering they used to call it a Bagel B.E.L.T? Tim Horton's is so full of shit.
- Liles and Komisarek...oh my. As I said before what worse could a young Cody Franson do?
- Can't blame Gardiner on that since the puck was coming from his side. Liles should have been backing up, especially since Jagr was coming off his wing. I don't understand the free pass he gets.
- Well...Gustavsson played a tough game. Battled the whole way. Cursed by the Komisarek.


Conclusion:

The Good - Gustavsson and Steckel both put in very solid efforts tonight. I thought that they were both more into this game than any of the other Leafs on the ice tonight. Outside of that I don't have much good to say.

The Bad - No surprises here: Mike Komisarek, Power Play, and JML. Let's start with Komisarek and Liles, Komisarek was out for two PK goals and was in the box for a third. When I say that he was out for two PK goals I mean he screened the goalie for one of them and didn't cover someone on the second. His penalty resulted in the third. As for JML he was his typical self tonight, eventful. He went for it in the offensive zone, forgot about it in the defensive zone and still managed an even. Some may not agree with these assessments but I honestly can't say much positive about these two players performances in front of our keeper.

Overall - I expected us to lose this game going into it. I thought it would be more a result of Philly taking it to us and not us killing ourselves. I was wrong. High-sticking penalties, two break-aways to Jagr and many undisciplined plays did us in. Gustavsson was strong but the team as a whole had way too many mistakes to think they can compete playing like that. Wilson has some decisions to make personnel wise heading into their next game Thursday, let's just hope that it does not involve Mike Komisaresk wearing a jersey...let alone one with an 'A' on it.



Stay tuned for Thursday's Leafs Diary.

Questions? Comments? Let me know.

Toronto Maple Leafs Diary: October 20th, 2011

Toronto Maple Leafs Diary
BFin
Toronto vs. Boston (Boston, MA)
Thursday October 20th, 2011

Bets: TOR + NYI (Upset Special - Whoops), PHI, LA, NYR, COL, WPG, NYI, BUF

Drink: Red Wine, I felt bad taking two game days off.

State of Dress: Laundry Day! Sporting some athletic pants and a t-shirt.

Location: Toronto, Ontario.

Mood: Optimistic.

Introduction:
The surging Maple Leafs are into Beantown to visit the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. Boston has started out the season very slow at 1-3-0 but have been absolutely ravaged by injuries...not to mention the old Stanley Cup hangover. Toronto has once again continued their hot start recording 9 points in their first 10 games, led completely by the line of Kessel - Insert Center Here - Lupul. The Monster gets his first start in goal tonight and should be in against Tukka Rask. If you're a betting man, the Leafs have 2.45 odds (as of noon today) so they are providing a very good payout tonight.

1st Period
- Re-watching Kessels jump into Phaneufs awaiting arms still gives me goosebumps 21 hours later. I have NEVER seen that level of Phil Kessel throughout his entire career. Based on the way he is described in the book "Future Greats and Heartbreaks" by Gare Joyce, Kessel wasn't even that excited when he was going through the draft process. Perhaps we have won him over?
- This is not demeaning in any way to David Steckels play (because he has been very good) but how sad is it that in our third year with Phil Kessel we still say "Imagine what he could do with a real first line center?"...
- Frattin just held up instead of driving Seidenberg into the boards, Shanahans early suspensions appear to have worked.
- I think people have figured Colton Orr out. His arms aren't long enough to connect if you keep him extended an arm-length away. What was the purpose of that fight anyways? I took the time to go get another glass of wine. Also, I don't think Ray Ferraro gets what the code is if he thinks that fight was the code. The code is about honour, respect and sticking up for teammates...not staging some bullshit waste of my time in warm-ups.
- Is Komisarek out of the line-up? I see Franson, Gardiner, Phaneuf, Liles, Schenn and Gunnar. Smartest decision we have made all season.
- That experiment with Steckel at center lasted two shifts...talk about a short leash and a small sample size.
- DAMN! Changed my laundry over and missed Ron Wilson putting Steckel back on Kessels line for his first goal as a Maple Leaf. Am I the only one who does not get what cohesion you can form with line mates if they are different each shift?
- Will the undeserved love-fest for Matt Frattin (HFBoard's rookie of the year - LOL) end tonight? Bad penalty that gives Boston momentum right after the Leafs took it.
- And there it is. Nathan Horton with a gimme on the doorstep after Gardiner pinches too high on the PK and Monster fails to control his rebound. Boston is going to start controlling this game if we give them free chances.
- Phil Kessel needs to take the momentum back here (Didn't think I'd ever say that in my life).
- If I am an NHL GM or Coach I have a serious issue with TSN asking my players to speak to them during commercial breaks instead of them focusing on the game, especially when it's John Michael Liles.
- Another power play goal. When will we ever learn?
- I like Cody Franson, but he lost the puck there and missed his man. This is a brutal end to this period.
- Wow I love Dave Hodge. Articulate, insightful, sarcastic...perfect guy to be the old man on the NHL on TSN panel.


2nd Period
- Great back-check by Kulemin. I see a Selke Trophy in his career at some point.
- Isn't Kadri playing wing? Why is he protecting the slot with Lombardi right beside him?
- I guess we were due for this at some point, but one has to ask whether or not the team we have seen tonight or the team we saw in the third last night are the real Maple Leafs. My fears are that it is somewhere in between but leaning towards tonight.
- Seriously impressed with Gunnars performance in his own end tonight. I was skeptical as to why he was paired with Dion but his blocked shots tonight have been absolutely crucial. Love admitting that I was wrong, when it benefits the Leafs.
- Ron Wilson's dog-house is bigger than Mike Vicks. Bozak has been the Leafs best center at both ends of the ice and we continue to experiment with him on other lines. Also, that god-house line could have been one of my best since the one about Mike Komisarek physically assaulting a woman a foot smaller in a Los Angeles nightclub. (Didn't think I was going to forget that one tonight, did you?)
- I would love to see a one-on-one competition between Komisarek and Liles a la Coach Bombay vs. Coach Iceland. Liles just sitting at the blue line letting Komisarek skate down to the other end, Komisarek blowing a tire while attempting to take a slap shot at the cross-bar. Not exactly 3 post quality stuff.
- "Phaneuf has got a face full of Zdeno Chara" may not be commentary as much as a Gord Miller fantasy. Just saying.
- Tim Thomas is on his unorthodox game tonight.
- Gord Miller follows it up with his best comment of the early season "To the bench" when describing Boychuk's go-to move on a breakaway.
- Tim Thomas needs to get an Iron Man themed mask after the number of posts the Leafs have hit in this period.
- Am I the only one that gets a man-rection every time I see the massive machinery in the Rio Tinto Diamond Mine commercials?
- I honestly feel bad for the Monster and Franson...Liles can not cover anyone. I know we are paying for his offence but what is the point if he is playing on the third unit?
- Frattin works his tail off, just doesn't have the creativity in his pro game to be an offensive force yet. I appreciate his game.
- Thanks for reminding me that we gave up a 2nd rounder for Liles...damn you TSN
- Kadri mopes more than Ior
- Kessel has zero shots. Boston must play a much bigger psychological game than it should.
- Tim Thomas won that period.


3rd Period
- The old NHL12 pass across the crease puts one home for the Bruins
- Leafs D has been bad tonight. All around. More Komisarek? lol
- Ric Flair references in Boston? What do Ric Flair and the Bruins have in common...absolutely nothing other than their ages. You're an original six Boston. As my buddy PK says 'act like you've been there before'.
- I have been blaming the D a lot tonight, but at the same time Gustavsson does not look like an NHL goaltender. Rynnas has proven he's a solid AHL starter, Scrivens needs time to show it as well...why not the end of this Monster experience?
- Why is Mike Brown playing with Kessel? FFS Wilson these guys need consistency! How are five line combinations in one night going to help you figure out what works?
- "Tyler Seguin breaks up a 2 on 1 between Kessel and Mike Brown"...ugh
- I have never seen a monster with that weak of a right hook. Kids not an NHL'er.
- Why is Mike Brown playing so much? We all know I love his PK abilities and speed, but regular shifts in a game we are trailing makes no sense to me.
- Oh wow. Someone call Ben Scrivens, the Bruins just killed a monster.
- I almost gave up on this diary and then realized that the Monster is still in the game and we have 8 minutes of goals left.
- HAH sweet fuck all for condolences tonight, but scoring during the "Thank you Kessel" chant was poignant.
- Nice assist by Gardiner. Needs to jump in the rush more.
- Now I am not looking this up and somewhat pulling it out of my ass (thanks wine) but I do believe that the 'Monster' has allowed 6 goals in his first game and that Reimer gave up 7 in his first THREE games. I yearn for the days of Don Beaupre.
- One has to ask what value Rosehill or Orr added to the lineup tonight? Wastes of space.
- Adele done by the organist in Boston is much more epic than the ACC's playing of a CD. Kudos to Boston for maintaining the organ! (Billy should love that one)
- Having the camera focus on Zdeno Chara with the song 'Shout!' playing in the background was odd.
- Bozak has been the best center on the Leafs tonight.
- Question: After tonight, who will be louder abour KOMISAREK BEATING A WOMAN IN AN LA NIGHTCLUB, myself or Gustavsson trying to distract?
- 17 goals against in Monsters last three starts. Come on.


Conclusion:

The Good - Tough one. The stats were mis-leading to me because Gardiner and Kadri both got pluses in garbage time. Gardiner played better in the third than he did in the first part of the game. Kadri didn't impress me at all. Luke Schenn is still not Luke Schenn. BUT I honestly believe that despite the -2 that Tyler Bozak had a pretty good game. He was in the shooting lane and adapted to whatever position or line combo Wilson put him on. It was tough to look good tonight with Jonas playing behind you.

The Bad - OBVIOUS. Red Light Gustavsson. His performance this evening cemented the fact that he is nothing more than an average AHL goalie. Absolutely do not want to see him in the Leafs net again.

Overall - Misleading game because how do you judge it if Reimer is in? As I said before, expectations will be tempered until the 10 game point of the season because the sample size we have seen thus far is too small. If the Monster has officially been killed off in Toronto, I would not be upset. I don't like being an angry Leaf fan.

Toronto Maple Leafs Diary - October 17th, 2011

Toronto Maple Leafs Blog
BFin
Toronto vs. Colorado
October 17th, 2011

Bets: COL, COL + ANA (Upset Special), ANA, NSH, TB
Drink: White wine with dinner, Crown and Diet to finish.
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Mood: Indifferent

1st Period:
- Nice to see my high school buddy Kyle Quincey getting some quality minutes in his backyard
- This would generally be the time where I would regale you with a great story about some debauchery that Quince and I engaged in. I will have to refrain this time as I don't think too many of those stories will bode well for either of our futures.
- That fight with a blonde woman, in an LA bar last year, has really turned Mike Komisarek's career around.
- I know I have bitched about this before, but, can the ACC please hire someone who watches hockey to pick the soundtrack at the ACC? Adele should be played in a hockey rink as much as Bieber and that is not a slight at Adele. (It was most definitely a shot at Bieber and his anti-Canadian Lakers douchebaggery)
- Why are we shifting Phil Kessel to the other side of the PP if he is the leagues leading scorer?
- Every time I see a composite stick break on an open shot I envision Pierre Maguires head exploding
- Who is Luke Giguere? I love Bowen's enthusiasm and blatant homer-ism...but he is most definitely getting more senile with each passing game.
- I can confirm it: Kessel is back-checking this year
- HELLO! There is a crowd at the ACC tonight. I think I just heard applause for an icing.
- Is not being able to get up for the first period of a home game a result of a lack of motivation before the game? Having such an intense anti-Wilson bias I will say YES! FIRE HIM! FIRE HIM NOW!
- so if Kypreos thinks Kessel is playing an 'Ovechkin-like' (LAUGH) game, is Komisarek playing a Scott Stevens like shut down game?

2nd Period:
- If the Leafs top 6 had a star or 2 very high end players mixed in we would be dangerous. The bottom 6 has some great pieces in Steckel, Dupuis, Brown, Lombardi, Frattin etc.
- Ovechkin...I mean Kessel scores
- Giguere goes post to post and probably pulls his groin. Memories of 2010-2011
- If my buddy PK would stop messaging me on BBM I could pay attention more...
- So did Mike Komisarek assume his all-star/captain teammate on defence couldn't do the job without him, or did he just pinch over to let everyone know that Mike Komisarek is still there? I should never have mentioned that time he hit a woman in an LA bar and did not have charges pressed against him. (WHoops)
- Komisarek shall henceforth be known as Optimus Crime since has has robbed me of Cody Franson, good hockey and the ability to wear a Leafs jersey inside of the aforementioned night club in LA.
- After the commentators ripped on Giguere for a while I lost interest and started playing around on the internet. Back in action with plenty of time to go.
- 'Blowing a tire is Komisarek'...real glad we sat Franson because of a bad camp instead of Komisarek's historically bad career.
- I've decided to chug the rye/diet that I am currently sipping on so that the excitement will increase for the third period
- Milan Hejduk is the new Teemu
- The crowd at the ACC has once again decided to stage a silent protest until Waffle Man is allowed back into the ACC. If that isn't the explanation than I am at a loss for their ineptitude this evening.


3rd Period:
- ANDDDDD here we go
- Chugging resulted in nothing, stay tuned.
- Is 'mustard' the most used condiment in sports? 'SO MUCH MUSTARD ON THAT SHOT'...
- After a few minutes of watching the Leafs PP closely I have come to the conclusion that Ron Wilson's only strategy is "Pass it to Dion".
- Ovechkin would have scored in this third period
- I see that Ron Wilson has moved Lombardi to the top line. As if Tyler Bozak has been the source of the Leafs problem.
- We need Jussi Rynnas out there so at least we'll have some form of Finnish in our lineup. All Swedish, no finish tonight.
- I see Steckel is out with Kessel after I had just asked a friend if his face off capabilities and big-body presence in front of the net would compliment Kessel more. What are we paying Ron Wilson for again?
- If anyone ever used Don Cherry for an "I know suits" commercial...I'd have to smack them
- Decent little dangle by Kulemin in front of the net. I bet on the Avs. I am torn. Go...Leavs?


Overtime:
- Need another drink
- End to end sloppy action
- QUINCEY! What a beauty assist and he gives me a nice double up on my bet. Gotta love the kid from King City.

Overall Result:
Bittersweet for me tonight.

Good: High school friend gets an assist on the winning goal. Avalanche had good odds and got me a victory.

Bad: Leafs lose.

Overall: Happy to get a point, wish it was 2 but not the most disappointing game I have seen the Leafs play.

Leafs Diary - October 8th, 2011

Toronto Maple Leafs Diary
BFin
Toronto vs. Ottawa
Saturday October 8th, 2011

Bets: ANA, BUF, PHI, BOS, TOR, CAR, CHI, DET, PIT, SJ. UPSET SPECIAL - CAR + TB

Drink: Crown Black and diet.

State of Dress: Lazy but comfortable.

Location: London, Ontario for Turkey.

Mood: Anxious, relaxed, slightly inebriated.

Pre-Game
- Paul MacLean has the greatest duster in the NHL. 53 years old and it looks like he has been growing that 'stache since birth.
- Ottawa Senators had trouble at customs and got into Toronto late last night? Kudos to Toronto Customs!
- This PJ Stock and Kelly Hrudey faceoff segment is painful. Why did CBC choose an agitating winger and a goalie to explain why David Steckel is an excellent face-off man?
- Brendan Shanahan vs. Elliot Friedman: Battle of the increasing chins.
- Re-fill on the rye and diet so I don't know what happened from 6:55pm-7:04pm. The drink is delicious though, so it was well worth it.
- I can't be the only one over the age of 3 that still misses the "Dun dun dun dun dunnnn" when Hockey Night in Canada started. What a dumb decision not to keep that song.
- Random Thought: Who will 'god' help in a battle between James Reimer and Rocco Grimaldi?

1st Period
- Someone should tell Cassie Campbell that she's a working professional, not a biker.
- I miss Harry Neale and Bob Cole. They may not have been able to read the players names but at least they displayed some modicum of excitement.
- Did Konopka get into that fight with the intention of not throwing a punch or was that accidental?
- Gunnarsson getting dangled by Da Costa...I haven't been paying enough attention to his defensive game to know if this is a one-time occurrence.
- Cowen gets a penalty for high-sticking Colby Armstrong in the face. Personally I think Armstrong's nose should get 2 for interference. Absolutely massive.
- Grabovski cemented himself as a Leaf for me when he gave Habs fans the finger. Kicked out with gusto.
- Is Phil Kessel finally in shape? Has been skating hard these first 2 games

Intermission
- Should be interesting to see what Don Cherry says tonight...it will no doubt be unapologetic, have poor diction, and be from the heart of an old-time Canadian.
- Even Don Cherry's opinion is changing. I agree that you should not have fighters who don't play regular shifts.
- Good point about the baseball head shots. Kind of dis-similar in the fact that players in baseball aren't wearing shoulder pads made of hard plastic.


2nd Period
- DOUBLE DION!!!!!
- I believe they call that the 'train tracks'
- Life in the crowd at the ACC...what is this a hockey game?
- Komisarek is turning my opinion around here. Love the aggressiveness. Haven't seen this style of play since he got knocked out by Lucic with Boston.
- I don't know whether to feel good about this game or to understand that we are playing the Ottawa Senators.
- Nikita Filatov may not have been the best 'risky pickup' in my keeper league.
- Can Stephane Da Costa grow facial hair? He looks like he is 12 years old.
- So based on Kessels career performance we should expect no goals in his next three games after tonight?
- Those who can't do...play for the Ottawa Senators?

Intermission
- Mike Milbury is Don Cherry with a better point.
- Whoever the guy in the brown suit is...has never played hockey. I don't know why this guy is on the panel? It's like hiring a consultant who has never worked in your industry.


3rd Period
- I need another drink, hoping that I do not miss the start of this. Perhaps not making a comment about it would have been beneficial.
- You know when Colton Orr scores that things are getting a little out of hand
- Too bad Chris Neil didn't have the balls to fight Orr. He might have been in the box instead of scoring the fifth goal.
- Even the moustache can't save you now
- Well...this is some bull-shit
- What the hell is going on in this game? Why is Chris Neil still in the NHL?
- Crowd sounds very good right now. Nice to see some excitement in the ACC again.
- 82-0-0 is still alive

Conclusion
- If we play like that we are going to continue to miss the playoffs. Toronto needs to develop a system like the Buffalo Sabres that shuts it down defensively when they get a 3-4 goal lead. I don't know if that is a coaching thing

Richard Griffin and Damien Cox: Who Needs Integrity?

Sifting through the usual Damien Cox diatribe, I came across Richard Griffin’s article insinuating that Jose Bautista is taking performance enhancing drugs. While I don’t discount the fact that going from 19 home runs, to 40 with many games to go is a great feat…I think it’s quite sad that these two automatically threw that conclusion out there. It discredits any work Jose has done, and will now create a cloud over an excellent season.

I figured I would point out some glaring errors in Richard’s article, and hope that it serves to further discredit Cox for referring readers to the article. I would also hope that maybe a Toronto Star reader could email this blog to an editor at the Star to let them know what a joke their blog/columnist sections are.

Richard’s spectrum of proof revolves around utilizing Dave Andreychuk (A hall of famer before his years with the Leafs) as an example of how Bautista is juiced. I don’t really get the correlation as no one in history ever thought that Dave was juiced…and the fact that he had scored over 35 goals in a season 5 times prior to Griffin’s season in question really leads me to go, huh? How in the hell is a 40 goal scorer the same as a former pinch hitter and utility fielder?

Anyhow, I will bite on the comparison and begin to analyze this point for point:

#1 - When it comes to hockey hall-of-famer, forward Dave Andreychuk how is it exactly that at the age of 30, back in 1993-94, he suddenly joined the illustrious ranks of 50-goal scorers?

Someone should really tell Mr. Griffin to look at the 1992-93 season in which David Andreychuk scored 54 goals for the Maple Leafs and Sabres. Did you try and rush this article to the Internet without realizing that those were not two separate years, and that 1992-93 stat lines have to be added? Surely the Toronto Star verified the guys first point in his useless blog? No? If this doesn’t prove the complete idiocy of Mr. Griffin’s blog post than I really don’t know what does.

How does a sports writer in Toronto not remember Joe Bowen’s epic “David Andreychuk hits the 50 mark!” call??? I am 26 years old and I remember that bloody call!

#2 – Hey, prior to 1993-94, Andreychuk, one of the nicest guys in the game, had never potted more than 41 goals in a season, then BAM. What's up with that? The Hamilton, Ontario native (hmm!) had 25 goals the year before, then out of the blue, Bobby Hull and Boom-Boom Geoffrion-esque numbers.

As we have discussed above, this is not true. He scored 54 in 1992-93 and with some quick investigation it is easy to see that Dave's increase in production from 1990-1994 can be directly attributed to increased time on the ice. His shot totals went up by about 80 shots in each of those seasons, something that Mr. Griffin would have been very smart to look at.

#3 - The next year, Andreychuk scored 22 goals, then eight the year after that. But was he done? No sirree. All of a sudden, Andreychuk seemed to find a mysterious Fountain of Youth that carried him for another 10 productive seasons until retiring at age 43. How so? Are these questions that should have been asked at the time by Hockey Hall-of-Fame voters or are they just too trusting and star-struck?

Everybody who saw Andreychuk play in his 40’s knows that he was as slow as molasses and that he was not a top tier player. He was a captain on a young team, who had playoff experience and could still park his ass in front of the net. Last time I checked experience, positioning, and leadership have nothing to do with PED’s.

#4 – LA PIECE DE RESISTANCE - And by the way, when Andreychuk was drafted, he was listed at 6-4, 200 lbs., yet when he retired he was listed at a strapping 225, gaining 25 pounds of mysterious muscle.

YOU JUST SAID HE RETIRED AT THE AGE OF 43. IS SOMEONE SERIOUSLY TELLING ME THAT AN 18 YEAR OLD CAN NOT PUT ON 25 POUNDS OF MUSCLE IN 25 YEARS?!?!?!?!? DID THIS GUY SKIP BIOLOGY/ANATOMY CLASS? This is an absolute farce to me. I put on 25 lbs since I started writing blogs, and you’re trying to tell me a 6’4 kid can’t do it in a quarter century? I don’t even know what else to say about this.

The most telling part of the article comes in one of it’s final lines:

“Now, granted, I have never spoken to Andreychuk and may have met him only once while covering a Tampa Bay game late in his career. But that shouldn't matter.”

Umm when has having no proof, and never having met a man allow you to decide that your argument is now concrete? Doesn’t this fly in the face of journalistic integrity? For shame Mr. Griffin, and Damien Cox. You have both put a dark cloud over what is an excellent achievement for Jose, and brought in Dave Andreychuk for absolutely no reason. It’s a joke, but I guess I shouldn’t expect much more from you two.

Until next time

BF6

www.twitter.com/brandonfinleyy

Does the Salary Cap Work: Chicago Blackhawks Edition

Congratulations and my condolences to the Chicago Blackhawks of 2009. After sifting through the Atlanta Thrashers roster and realizing that Rick Dudley has created himself Chicago JR in Atlanta, I thought it would be the optimal time to decide once and for all (in my opinion only) whether or not the salary cap actually works. Before we delve any deeper into the discussion allow me to make a few notes:
- I am a huge Maple Leafs fan, and would like to thank the Blackhawks for sending Kris Versteeg our way. You have a potential 30 goal scorer in Viktor Stalberg, but here's hoping Versteeg's skills develop further and that his career of winning rubs off on the Leafs (Tomas Kaberle).
- Kudos to Rick Dudley for acquiring 4 Stanley Cup winners in Byfuglien, Sopel, Eager and Ladd for relatively little return. I think that having people with a history of winning and those willing to sacrifice to get the cup is a very underrated characteristic in the modern day free agent/trade bait. I think Atlanta will surprise a little, maybe not next year, but in 2 years they could be quite dangerous. Remember Evander Kane has just turned 19 years old and already has a full NHL season under his belt.

With that out of the way, lets get into this!


During my deep contemplation over a cheap Magnum of white wine, I had to make the decision as to the best presentation of this argument. Since the Blackhawks are not my team, or even in my consideration of acceptable teams, I felt that presenting both sides of the argument and then making my final verdict would allow this to be the most objective view possible of the monster that is the salary cap.


THE SALARY CAP STINKS!

I found it quite tough to find a lot of reasons why the salary cap does not work, so this section is going to be rather brief. That does not mean that I personally believe it actually works, I just found all of the arguments to be somewhat related.

#1 - Patience Is Not a Virtue

The salary cap has created an odd situation in the NHL where teams can not be built and groomed over time, they now must be built and re-built every few years while maintaining a small core of all-star calibre players. No longer is patiently stock piling #1 picks a viable option, because the NHL salary cap will not alow you to hang on to all of those players over time. A couple of very good picks have to work out, while still under their rookie contracts, and then free agents/trades/mid-level picks must fill out the roster. Patience and the proper foundations of building a team are dead in the NHL today. Ask the Chicago Blackhawks. While a core of Pat Kane, John Toews, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Ketith and Brent Seabrook is downright scary....Byfuglien, Versteeg, Barker, Sopel, Ladd, and Niemi...are all HUGE pieces gone.

#2 - Deep Pockets? Spend Away!

One caveat in the current CBA states that teams can send players to the minors...or apparently the Suisse League if you are Cristobal Huet...when you fuck up and sign someone like Jeff Finger for $3.5 million dollars. Oh wait, the Maple Leafs have yet to bury him there to create more cap space and make their team better? Oh righhttt....I follow a team that stinks and doesn't have the balls to do that. Fuck loyalty. When was the last time a Toronto athlete was loyal to us? Sundin? Bosh? Burnett? I say bury every shitty contract in the minors and let them stay there. Toronto can begin to be loyal when athletes start committing to the fans and the city, like the fans and the city committ to them.

I will leave that for another day. The point remains the same, teams such as the Maple Leafs, the Rangers, and the Flyers can afford to make a mistake or two, and simply put the contract somewhere that it no longer counts against the cap. This does not alleviate the expense from their financial statements, but in a hockey sense it resets the decision meter. Small market clubs like the Blue Jackets and the Thrashers (thanks Bettman) can not afford this luxury and must be very careful with who they sign. The NHL has created the ability to still have the big money clubs winning every year, while trying to balance the power within the game.

#3 - Loyalty...is dead.

Every NHL fan has known since the on-set of Free Agency that loyalty from players to an organization is mostly non-existent. For every Steve Yzerman there are a dozen Jagr's or Yashin's who are just looking for that big payday every chance they can get. The NHL salary cap has created a situation where the Teams and Players can both dump each other at various situations through their NHL careers. Loyalty has officially died in the NHL.

Picture this: The year is 1993, the Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup and proceed to trade off Patrick Roy, Kirk Muller, And Patrice Brisebois simply because they won the cup, and these guys were due raises they could no longer afford. Seems somewhat ludicrous, however as we have seen this year with the Hawks, it is a very real reality. For better or worse.



ROCK ON SALARY CAP!

This was easy to write, all you have to remember is The Count's err I mean Gary Bettman's repeptitive statements during the lockout as to why it's better for us NHL die hards to not have the teams we love on the ice for an entire year. On behalf of all fans, if I haven't said it on record already, fuck you NHLPA and the NHL for the most boring Winter of my life. My drinking and promiscuity were dramatically increased during University as a result of it.

#1 Parity > Dynasty

Lets consider for a moment, the 2009 version of the Chicago Blackhawks, without a Salary Cap. They could have kept each and every player that was on the roster and not skipped a beat for upwards of 5 seasons. This was the youngest team in the NHL at the start of the NHL season with an average age of 25.65. That is a team that could repeat, especially considering how dominant they were in the regular season as well. The salary cap has forced the Hawks to focus on which players they think are the most important to the team, and build around them with economically efficient players. Dynasties will be tough to create, however, the Hawks have kept themselves an extremely good group of players that are very capable of winning the Cup again. The Pens erred in my opinion by giving role players like Orpik and Guerin big money.



#2 Parity = Success (Did not plan these math based intros)

One can't deny that having stars spread out across more NHL cities, and having all teams with a shot at making the playoffs each year, would create greater ticket revenues across the board. Balanced rosters will ensure that teams across the league can compete on a nightly basis and that relocation is not needed. The Coyotes had excellent attendance the second half of this season, and kudos to the organization for assembling a roster that was exciting enough to surprise everyone. Gary Bettman and his crack team of advisers have unfortunately put hockey teams in hotbeds such as Sunrise, Florida and Columbus, Ohio (Home of the $9000 family home)...which creates a bit of a Marketing conundrum. How can 2 cities that have no affinity for hockey, no history of hockey, and no desire for a team be viable business opportunities in any ones minds?

Poor business decisions aside, a salary cap allows these small market teams to be competitive despite not having the same ability to sell out every night. Whether it's covering your own ass or not, the average attendance in the NHL has increased from 16,534 pre salary cap to 17,072 after the cap came in. Advantage parity.


I had approximately 5 points supporting this, however I managed to include them all into 2 overall subjects. Time to form a final verdict on whether or not the Salary cap is beneficial or harmful to the NHL.

THE VERDICT

This is a difficult verdict to write because it comes with mixed opinions. The salary cap delivers benefits, and is detrimental to the NHL at the same time.

My Verdict is the following: The NHL Salary Cap helps the league as a whole, as a business unit, however it is very detrimental to successful teams. My reasoning for this mixed opinion is:

- It creates a world in which the rich teams can be successful while still making the same bad decisions they had in an uncapped world.
- Being patient, drafting well, and not overpaying for free agents does not pay off because players coming off of rookie contracts can not all be retained. This creates a system of constant building that is exciting for the league as a whole, it creates a tumultuous situation with fan bases in individual cities. Teams can go from the penthouse to the basement in a matter of years. This does not inspire confidence in attendance.
- Parity allows more teams a chance at the cup, and for new fan bases to become enthralled with NHL hockey.

So I guess it's time for me to man up and actually make a decision here...all my points are on the table...and 5/8 of my wine is done. Sounds like decision time to me. My personal feeling is that a salary cap is needed in every league so that situations like the New York Yankees do not occur. I think that parity and having exciting playoff series makes for a successful league. Try and tell me you didn't watch the Oilers vs Stars battles in the 90's and early 2000's...cause I was glued to my TV every time they played. If I was a Blackhawks fan, I would hate the salary cap. Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Eager, and Niemi were all great acquisitions and they should be punished for being successful.

Final Verdict: Cap Works. Hawks are still good. Can't wait for the season to start.


Cheers,

BF6

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