Game 48: Habs @ Leafs - Apr. 27, 7:00pm - CBC, TSN 1050

[L K]

I really don't think a lot of people here understand the concept of a bandwagon.

Way to jump off the bandwagon of definitions.

It's games like this that are going to have Carlyle have a short tenure with the team.  Getting outshot is one thing, but the repetitive <5 shot periods is a real cause of concern.  Unless a goalie craps the bed or Kessel is playing lights out the Leafs won't have any chance at winning games in the playoffs.

They seem really weak when stickhandling.  The whole season guys have come up from behind and stripped them of the puck because they don't have a good grip on their stick/have weak wrists.  And they seem to lose an awful lot of battles along the boards for a "tough" team.

 

[oakl0008]

I have a feeling that Kessel no longer wants to be on this team.

I'm sure he's tired of carrying the scoring for years on a loosing team. Although he's not really a team guy or a complete player, and there's been questions about his conditioning, the crap he has taken in the media this year especially near the trade deadline after leading the leafs in scoring would make anyone bolt. Either this year or next, he's gone. And that makes me sad.  :'(

I thought Kessel looked dead tired more than anything else.

I'm still hoping he re-signs but anyone who thought he was a shoe-in to stay and take a discount were out to lunch.

I think there's the comfort factor that will work to Toronto's favour in convincing him to stay. He may get flak from the media, but generally speaking, I'm willing to bet he feels a lot happier and more accepted playing with the guys here than in Boston.

Kind of scary if he's tired right before the playoffs especially in a slow game like that. And I'm saying that as a fan of his. I hope he's in ok condition, but of course I'm in no position to comment on that. Ha.

And I agree I hope that he wouldn't play too much hardball with TO as he did with Boston in terms of salary. But for anyone to expect him to take a pay cut or not ask for a substantial raise at all after leading in scoring for years, well, I seriously dunno what they're thinking.

And I hope your right in that last part. I hope he's still happy playing here and that he gets on with the team. It would be nice if there was more he could do with this growing team (well, if they are growing together). Not sure what the issues were with teammates in Boston. I just hope he's not one of those guys that demands too big of a raise only to bolt the minute his contract is almost up. Time will tell I guess.

 

[ZBBM]

I missed this one ... and I guess I'm glad I did.

But why get bent out of shape?  As stated above, aside from Nutman nobody expected playoffs.  It'll be great no matter what.

 

[oakl0008]

I missed this one ... and I guess I'm glad I did.

But why get bent out of shape?  As stated above, aside from Nutman nobody expected playoffs.  It'll be great no matter what.

True. Must try to be positive. Just want them to play better and give it more of a chance. But even further than that, I hope this is the start of a good cycle for this team for years to come and won't be dismantled or loose a couple of their key players in a year or so (ie Kessel).

Must have wine.

 

[leafplasma]

I missed this one ... and I guess I'm glad I did.

But why get bent out of shape?  As stated above, aside from Nutman nobody expected playoffs.  It'll be great no matter what.

I get bent out of shape when I see a team mail it in.  There has been absolutely nil effort on the part of this team of late and you can come out on the losing end and still give it your all, we just haven't seen that with the Leafs.  When you look at the Jackets who have made a valiant push to the end and  who missed the playoffs today while still winning their last game of the season, the Leafs performance becomes even more tarnished.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Although he's not really a team guy or a complete player, and there's been questions about his conditioning, the crap he has taken in the media this year especially near the trade deadline after leading the leafs in scoring would make anyone bolt. Either this year or next, he's gone. And that makes me sad.  :'(

You realize that that sort of talk is just as bad, right?
[/quote]

 

[Jalili]

Kind of scary if he's tired right before the playoffs especially in a slow game like that. And I'm saying that as a fan of his. I hope he's in ok condition, but of course I'm in no position to comment on that. Ha.

And I agree I hope that he wouldn't play too much hardball with TO as he did with Boston in terms of salary. But for anyone to expect him to take a pay cut or not ask for a substantial raise at all after leading in scoring for years, well, I seriously dunno what they're thinking.

And I hope your right in that last part. I hope he's still happy playing here and that he gets on with the team. It would be nice if there was more he could do with this growing team (well, if they are growing together). Not sure what the issues were with teammates in Boston. I just hope he's not one of those guys that demands too big of a raise only to bolt the minute his contract is almost up. Time will tell I guess.

I based that on the way he was falling and botching plays. He gave it his all but the tank was pretty near empty. I don't see that as a concern, because he was hustling a lot harder than some of his teammates. Plus a few days will go a long ways to recover.

As for his contract, my impression of Kessel is that he'll be very selective in what team he would sign with other than the Leafs. That works to our favour. The conditions would have be right for him. I still think the Leafs have a good shot at re-signing him, but it won't be quick and easy.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I have a feeling that Kessel no longer wants to be on this team.

I'm sure he's tired of carrying the scoring for years on a loosing team. Although he's not really a team guy or a complete player, and there's been questions about his conditioning, the crap he has taken in the media this year especially near the trade deadline after leading the leafs in scoring would make anyone bolt. Either this year or next, he's gone. And that makes me sad.  :'(

I thought Kessel looked dead tired more than anything else.

I'm still hoping he re-signs but anyone who thought he was a shoe-in to stay and take a discount were out to lunch.

I think there's the comfort factor that will work to Toronto's favour in convincing him to stay. He may get flak from the media, but generally speaking, I'm willing to bet he feels a lot happier and more accepted playing with the guys here than in Boston.

Kind of scary if he's tired right before the playoffs especially in a slow game like that. And I'm saying that as a fan of his. I hope he's in ok condition, but of course I'm in no position to comment on that. Ha.

And I agree I hope that he wouldn't play too much hardball with TO as he did with Boston in terms of salary. But for anyone to expect him to take a pay cut or not ask for a substantial raise at all after leading in scoring for years, well, I seriously dunno what they're thinking.

And I hope your right in that last part. I hope he's still happy playing here and that he gets on with the team. It would be nice if there was more he could do with this growing team (well, if they are growing together). Not sure what the issues were with teammates in Boston. I just hope he's not one of those guys that demands too big of a raise only to bolt the minute his contract is almost up. Time will tell I guess.

It's hilarious that Kessel puts up awesome point totals, but is still ripped on for random things.

 

[L K]

I have a feeling that Kessel no longer wants to be on this team.

I'm sure he's tired of carrying the scoring for years on a loosing team. Although he's not really a team guy or a complete player, and there's been questions about his conditioning, the crap he has taken in the media this year especially near the trade deadline after leading the leafs in scoring would make anyone bolt. Either this year or next, he's gone. And that makes me sad.  :'(

I thought Kessel looked dead tired more than anything else.

I'm still hoping he re-signs but anyone who thought he was a shoe-in to stay and take a discount were out to lunch.

I think there's the comfort factor that will work to Toronto's favour in convincing him to stay. He may get flak from the media, but generally speaking, I'm willing to bet he feels a lot happier and more accepted playing with the guys here than in Boston.

Kind of scary if he's tired right before the playoffs especially in a slow game like that. And I'm saying that as a fan of his. I hope he's in ok condition, but of course I'm in no position to comment on that. Ha.

And I agree I hope that he wouldn't play too much hardball with TO as he did with Boston in terms of salary. But for anyone to expect him to take a pay cut or not ask for a substantial raise at all after leading in scoring for years, well, I seriously dunno what they're thinking.

And I hope your right in that last part. I hope he's still happy playing here and that he gets on with the team. It would be nice if there was more he could do with this growing team (well, if they are growing together). Not sure what the issues were with teammates in Boston. I just hope he's not one of those guys that demands too big of a raise only to bolt the minute his contract is almost up. Time will tell I guess.

It's hilarious that Kessel puts up awesome point totals, but is still ripped on for random things.

And just so we are clear.  He was slow in the game where he still managed to score a goal.  He was one of the hotter players down the stretch.

 

[Redleaf]

The effect of not having Bozak playing was a noticeable last night. If they want to have a chance to win any games, let alone a series, they need to have 2 dangerous lines. Without Bozak in the line-up, they clearly don't. This will be a problem if he is not healthy.

 

[caver]

Agreed RedLeaf. I was hoping that Grabovski would start playing better to give them another threat but nothing yet. Carlyle even tried him with Kulemin and MacArthur for a bit last night. Bozak's return will at least give them 2 lines that are a threat.

 

[oakl0008]

I have a feeling that Kessel no longer wants to be on this team.

I'm sure he's tired of carrying the scoring for years on a loosing team. Although he's not really a team guy or a complete player, and there's been questions about his conditioning, the crap he has taken in the media this year especially near the trade deadline after leading the leafs in scoring would make anyone bolt. Either this year or next, he's gone. And that makes me sad.  :'(

I thought Kessel looked dead tired more than anything else.

I'm still hoping he re-signs but anyone who thought he was a shoe-in to stay and take a discount were out to lunch.

I think there's the comfort factor that will work to Toronto's favour in convincing him to stay. He may get flak from the media, but generally speaking, I'm willing to bet he feels a lot happier and more accepted playing with the guys here than in Boston.

Kind of scary if he's tired right before the playoffs especially in a slow game like that. And I'm saying that as a fan of his. I hope he's in ok condition, but of course I'm in no position to comment on that. Ha.

And I agree I hope that he wouldn't play too much hardball with TO as he did with Boston in terms of salary. But for anyone to expect him to take a pay cut or not ask for a substantial raise at all after leading in scoring for years, well, I seriously dunno what they're thinking.

And I hope your right in that last part. I hope he's still happy playing here and that he gets on with the team. It would be nice if there was more he could do with this growing team (well, if they are growing together). Not sure what the issues were with teammates in Boston. I just hope he's not one of those guys that demands too big of a raise only to bolt the minute his contract is almost up. Time will tell I guess.

It's hilarious that Kessel puts up awesome point totals, but is still ripped on for random things.

Newsflash. I wasn't ripping Phil Kessel. I was just hoping that our BEST player is at his best or almost his best before a few important games called the playoffs. Without him this team would be nowhere.

Although he's not really a team guy or a complete player, and there's been questions about his conditioning, the crap he has taken in the media this year especially near the trade deadline after leading the leafs in scoring would make anyone bolt. Either this year or next, he's gone. And that makes me sad.  :'(

You realize that that sort of talk is just as bad, right?

So a fan comment questioning certain buried deep in a fan thread questioning certain things is the same as a Toronto Star or Sun article with the headline "Leafs need to turn the page on Kessel". Right. Good to know.

Kessel's my favorite player. I've just learned from the past not to look at any one player or team through blue & white coloured glasses, no matter how amazing they are. I wasn't the only one who said or heard these things either. And that being said, I love watching Kessel do what he does best even though I'm nowhere near a hockey expert.

 

[Ronco]

The Leafs gave this game to the Habs.

They wanna play em in the playoffs.
Why win and face Boston. Hey if they meet them.

Well then let's see what this team has!

 

[Brian Glennie]

We stink dudes.