Re: [Hockey]Official Toronto Maple Leafs 2013-2014 Hockey Thread
quote:But not far off from where Chicago was last year? You've just crossed the line between confidence and delusion..
Especially with Phaneuf on the blueline [he's another Bieksa] ..........and 2 young unproven goalies. -- Sarcasm is the body's natural defense against stupidity.
yea, i didn't think the Leafs wanted a 1 year either...they already have Phil Kessel, Dave Bolland, Nikolai Kulemin, Jay McClement, Trevor Smith (not sure who he is), Dion Phaneuf, Mark Fraser, and Paul Ranger coming up for renewal after this season is done, all of whom will be UFAs...also, Jake Gardiner and Joe Colborne are RFA...the leafs need a 2 year deal to get them over that hump.
yes, but the cap coming down is where most of the problems have come from...also, this is the last year for Tucker and Armstrong on the books, so that frees up $2 million for next season...plus, there is $500k in retained salary from Scrivens and Frattin, bringing the total to $2.5 million...every little bit helps.
Leafs win a wild shootout vs the Sabres, 30 shooters (15 rounds) before either goalie allowed a goal. Reimer stopped all 15 shots. That should be some good practice for regular season shootout hehe..
Leafs were down 0-2 going into the 3rd but tied it up, had some mad chances in OT, but it ended in the 15 round shootout. Jay McClement scored the winner. --
yea, it was a good game (well, the outcome)...the game itself wasn't great, except for the 3rd period.
kudos to Carter Ashton...i remember seeing a bit of him late last year, with not much to be impressed about...he has been great this pre-season...playing his heart out, and he has great speed with a decent skill set too...no, not Crosby-esque, but certainly viable for the 3rd or 4th line, which is what i believe he is aiming for...plus, when Ott took a run at him, he didn't back down and it eventually lead to a fight...i was thinking the "kid" was making a mistake taking on Ott, but he manhandled Ott pretty good.
Clarkson is probably gone for 10 games for leaving the bench (like BizNasty early in the pre-season), and I'd be surprised if Kessel doesn't get a few games for spearing Scott after the fights as he had to go and get a stick to do that, let alone the vicious two-handed slashes at the start of it.
Using a stick as a weapon, returning to the centre of the ice after a fight with a stick, goalies fighting, player(s) leaving the bench during an altercation.....this could screw up the start of the season big time. Shanny is going to be busy tomorrow. -- All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer by the stars All of us do time in the gutter, dreamers turn to look at the cars - Peart / Lifeson / Lee Join Team Helix
Clarkson will likely be gone for 10 games...Kessel will likely be gone (my guess) a game or two as well...rules are rules...but seriously, Scott is chickenshit for picking a fight with Kessel...seriously...WTF was he thinking...he better be ready for mid-Nov when the Leafs play the Sabres again, because you can be sure Orr and MacLaren will want another piece of him (Orr was watching the game in the press box).
the interesting thing is, Carlyle saw that Scott was on the ice, so purposely put Kessel, Bozak and Ashton out there to try and diffuse the situation as neither of them are a real threat for a fight.
i think Scott is going to get frowned on from the other "fighters" in the game for that foolish move. -- People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
According to @Mirtle: Apparently John Scott wasn't happy with a Leafs tough guy knocking out Tropp and "joked" to Kessel he was coming after him.
Then Kessel freaked, gave him a stick tap (which he is prone to do, and I think we'd all agree a very dumb thing to do against a fighter when you aren't one), Scott decided to pull a Devine (ie/ go with a non-fighter), Kessel gave him two full golf swings to the legs and then later went back with another stick and speared Scott when he was still involved with someone else. This is the 2nd time in the pre-season that Kessel has gone stick-happy on someone's legs (I saw a hightlight once already but can't recall which game it was). Scott vs Orr or McLaren? I'm sure Scott will accomodate either one of them without any issue.
I think a lot of players will think what Scott did was just fine. Kessel likes to swing his stick and while he isn't as much of a cowardly-chippy as Kadri (from behind or across a ref) he gets away with a lot due to his semi-star status and uses it to his advantage. Maybe the next time TOR-BUF meet it'll be Kaleta all over Kessel all night with his stick. That'll be okay, right? -- All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer by the stars All of us do time in the gutter, dreamers turn to look at the cars - Peart / Lifeson / Lee Join Team Helix
Tropp wanted to fight Devane, not the other way around...there was no reason for Scott to do what he did...Kessel actually thought Scott was joking...if you can find it, watch the reply...Kessel gets caught off guard.
i'm not surprised you think what Scott did was fine, since you don't like the Leafs, but here is some unbiased comments about Kessel...Kessel has been a bit chippy with his stick this preseason...you know why??...because several players have been chippy with him by hacking his ankles and cross checking him...the problem is, there aren't really any "fighters" playing in the preseason as the Leafs are trying to evaluate their younger players, so if other players on the other teams want to test the waters a bit, there really isn't much threat NOT to...so, Kessel has been whacking back. -- People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
I dont care what team you play for, to slash two hand people with your stick is classless and the person should be suspended for a long time.
I would say that if it was a Sens player or anyone else -- "The hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning." ~ Adlai E. Stevenson
i agree Kessel shouldn't have done it, but keep in mind, he wasn't really expecting Scott to jump him...at the beginning, Kessel actually had a smile on his face because i think he thought Scott was joking...Scott his 6'8" and about 270 pounds...Kessel is listed at 6', 189 lbs, which i can assure you is being "generous"...Kessel is smaller than Domi, and Domi was listed at 5'8" and 213lbs...Kessel is likely around the 5'8" mark, and i'd be surprised if he weighed 189 as well. -- People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
I dont care what team you play for, to slash two hand people with your stick is classless and the person should be suspended for a long time.
I would say that if it was a Sens player or anyone else
Not in defense of kessel here, but that stick swinging was pure panic. The chickenshit part was when kessel tapped Scott later on. Kessel should be gone for at least 2 games for that alone. -- I'm a man, but I can change. If I have to. I guess.
that tap later on won't warrant anything...it wasn't a spear or anything vicious, just a tap on the pants...no, he shouldn't be poking the bear either, but adrenaline makes you do stupid things...i do think he should be suspended a game or two for his two handed whack...i understand he was in panic mode, but he should have just skated away...there is no way in hell Scott would ever catch him.
i'm not surprised you think what Scott did was fine, since you don't like the Leafs, but here is some unbiased comments about Kessel...Kessel has been a bit chippy with his stick this preseason...you know why??...because several players have been chippy with him by hacking his ankles and cross checking him...the problem is, there aren't really any "fighters" playing in the preseason as the Leafs are trying to evaluate their younger players, so if other players on the other teams want to test the waters a bit, there really isn't much threat NOT to...so, Kessel has been whacking back.
Don't put words in my mouth DJ -- it's beneath you. And your opinion being "unbiased" when mine isn't is just hilarious. I'll freely admit I don't like some Leafs players (and most of their fans), but I'm looking at the incident as what it is: two teams playing and things getting out of hand. Neither are "my team" so I'm not blinded like so many Leafers on Twitter are right now (check out Mirtle's timeline for some eye-opening opinion on what happened tonight).
Tropp played half a season with the Sabres last year and got knocked out so the Sabres were angry. Retribution is what happens these days in hockey. Where do you stand on Clarkson's jumping in on JGP after a hit on Kadri? Two-on-one where Clarkson is pulling off JGP's helmet while reaching over a linesman, and it ends up that Kadri bloodied JGP, gets no penalty, and scores on the subsequent PP. Pageau is by far the smallest of the three, and it's two-on-one. If Kadri isn't a total weaselpuss, he shouldn't need Clarkson to help him out against one of the smallest players in the league.
Even the homer announcers are surprised at what Clarkson is doing. It was retribution, but you'll have to condemn him if you think retribution is wrong.
Orr and McLaren are both injured, so they aren't playing. Devine scrapped in junior even if he didn't all that much in the ECHL/AHL last season. Kessel gives as much or more than he gets, so it's not like he's just "answering for getting picked on". If he wasn't so slashy, he wouldn't be getting as many as he does. Not nearly. That's an unbiased-by-fanboi comment. And any non-Leafer will agree.
Kessel deserves to be suspended for swinging his stick and then returning to spear later on. It's intent to injure, pure and simple. And the suspension is automatic until a review happens.
....and that's total BS about Kessel being 5'8". Total. If he is, then he's smaller than JGP (listed as 5'9" 163lb and I believe that I was within 5 feet of him at an autograph session on Saturday and he is that small, if not smaller) and there's not a hockey fan around who's going to believe that. I've been within 15 rows of the ice when Kessel has been playing and that's simply not true. C'mon DJ, you're better than that. -- All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer by the stars All of us do time in the gutter, dreamers turn to look at the cars - Peart / Lifeson / Lee Join Team Helix
i think that Kadri/Clarkson play was crappy too (i mentioned it at work)...even when i watched it, i was shocked that Kadri didn't get a penalty (or Clarkson), and was more surprised when the Leafs got a powerplay from it.
Kessel deserves to be suspended for swinging his stick and then returning to spear later on. It's intent to injure, pure and simple. And the suspension is automatic until a review happens.
the swinging the stick, yes...there was no spear (despite what Neal said)...watch the footage again when Kessel returns to Scott (2:25)...he pushes his pant with the blade of the stick...no, he shouldn't be doing that, but it wasn't a spear. -- People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
It wasn't as big as the first two swings, but it was a deliberate act with a stick where he pushed it into his mid-section/hip. A push, a spear....call it what you want, but it was a deliberate act by a player that should have long already been in the box or dressing room.
For the record: I doubt Kessel will get much, if anything, in terms of supplementary discipline, and if he does it's only pre-season games. -- All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer by the stars All of us do time in the gutter, dreamers turn to look at the cars - Peart / Lifeson / Lee Join Team Helix
i don't disagree he shouldn't have done it, i just doubt it will mean much in terms of punishment...the two handed swings, however, will likely result in suspension (as they should)...i think he will get 1-2 games (regular season)...anything more than 5 might be a little too much, if it is all regular season games.
I dont care what team you play for, to slash two hand people with your stick is classless and the person should be suspended for a long time.
I would say that if it was a Sens player or anyone else
Not in defense of kessel here, but that stick swinging was pure panic. The chickenshit part was when kessel tapped Scott later on. Kessel should be gone for at least 2 games for that alone.
I think that was what Pierre McGuire said he should get this AM on the Ottawa Sports station. (he said regular season though).
I have issues with stick use period. The first swing may have been panic (even though Kessel grabbed Scott first), the second swing was after Scott had been engaged by a few other Leafs and was no longer going after Kessel showed he was a moron, the spear was pure and unadulterated imbicility
Scott is a moron too BTW -- "The hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning." ~ Adlai E. Stevenson
Clarkson: gone until late in October Kessel: probably gone for a few regular season games
Suspensions count against the cap.
TML looking at signing Franson and possibly Raymond.
Team will have ~$2.5M in cap space once Colbourne/Smith is sent down. However, they need him and another player to fill in for Clarkson/Kessel while they are suspended.
Cap wise, this is making things even tighter than they already were for Noonis. -- All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer by the stars All of us do time in the gutter, dreamers turn to look at the cars - Peart / Lifeson / Lee Join Team Helix
If you watch the start of the Kessel/Scott fight Kessel reaches up with his hand. Not sure what Kessel was going to do but Scott reacts.
Kessel thought Scott was joking (you can see him still smiling)...when he realizes it wasn't a joke, he moves back and takes a swing at him.
as i said, i'm not saying Kessel doesn't deserve a suspension (you can't do that with your stick), just that Kessel thought Scott was joking about "jumping him". -- People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
I didn't watch this happen live, but i saw replays.... and it will be interesting what Kessel gets... Its sad that Clarkson will get an automatic 10... Puts a big dent in his season and the Leafs ability to get a good start on the season will be affected.
I enjoyed the goalie scrap though. Bernier looked good! --
but here is some unbiased comments about Kessel...
Lolwut? Did you copy-paste comments made by someone else?
??
i agreed that Kessel was being chippy with his stick...but unlike Kardinal, i watch every game, so i see all the abuse Kessel gets from other players...that's the downside of being a smaller skilled forward...you attract a lot of attention and opposing players will try various ways of shutting you down...in most cases, physical attention would always work against Kessel, and players know this...Kessel doesn't go to the dirty areas for pucks, and in most cases, steers clear of the tough/rough stuff (including races for a puck in the corners).
in short, i'm not excusing Kessel's use of his stick lately, just saying that i understand WHY he is doing it...however, he needs to find other ways to "retaliate", and in Kessel's skill set, that is punishing that team on the scoreboard...like FaxCap said, tell them to talk to Orr (or McLaren, Fraser, etc). -- People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
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