Practically the entire league has been like that this season. The only real exception to the rule had been Detroit & Ottawa, but both of those teams are going through rough spells this days as well. As a fan of the Rangers, the team has baffled me by times this year. They'll put together a stretch of 3 games where they look like they are Stanley Cup contenders, and then the next thing you know they are on a 3 or 4 game losing streak.
Habs have been reall consistant this year, they just haven't had any explosive patches yet...hopefully they're saving their best for the playoffs!
ryan93 Wrote:As a fan of the Rangers, the team has baffled me by times this year. They'll put together a stretch of 3 games where they look like they are Stanley Cup contenders, and then the next thing you know they are on a 3 or 4 game losing streak.
Sounds exactly like the Flames. And you're right, there are plenty of teams having the same kind of up & down season. The word "parity" has been thrown around a lot this year by sports journalists. I suppose they're right.
should I stay or should I go.....now we know
how many others have exercised the no trade at the deadline?
Its official, Mats is going nowhere: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230511&hubname=">http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230511&hubname=</a><!-- m -->
Thats great news as far as Im concerned, now Toronto cant get good young players or draft picks for him, go Mats!!
Bob McKenzie on TSN said that every player on the Leafs with a NTC has said no to being traded, Cliff Fletcher is pretty much screwed now for making a big trade Id think. The only one who is considering it is McCabe, but I heard he wants to stay cause his wife is pregnant.
Thanks Mats! :thumb:
GO HABS!!!
I have to admit, I'm pretty disappointed in Mats' decision to stay put. I can certainly understand him not wanting to have his name on the Cup Doug Weight style, but damn, he's not going to help the franchise at all by playing out the string this season.
I love how sports networks are saying that Sundin is "refusing" to waive his no-trade clause... shouldn't it read, Sundin is rightfully exercising his no-trade clause?
As for his decision, I've gained a lot of respect for him and his statement. He doesn't want to be a rental player. Fair enough.
I'm also happy with it, because then it won't give Toronto assets, then get him back. Maybe they should build from within...who knows?!
All I know is that it looks like Montreal is heading for the playoffs, and they are in the race for Hossa!
I was truly hoping Sundin would end up on the Ottawa roster. As unlikely as that possibility would have been (for 392 reasons), I think he would have taken the team to 'that' level. Thirty-seven hours to go. If Ottawa lands Olli Jokinen, I'll shit my pants. Seriously, if I'm standing in line at a Starbucks and I hear that Jokinen is an Ottawa Senator, I'll skip the grande flavour, and head straight to the men's room to deal with my momentary incontinence.
I think it's admirable that the Captain is going down with his ship. I guess he's happier being a proud leaf than a rental with his name on the cup. I don't think there's anything wrong with going to some other team for a few months, to seal your legacy (Bourque).
Mixed feeling on Sundin........he has earned my respect for the player he has been, but this puts the team back two years in the rebuilding phase. If he truly loves Toronto the way he says he does, you would think that he would be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the team.
I honestly don't see what the big deal would have been to leave for a few months. Right now his hockey season is over in another month or so, whereas he could have played a few more months with another team and then came back to the Leafs in the summer with the start of a rebuild. Perhaps the deal would not have been as big if Sundin refused to sign with another team, but something is better than nothing, which is what we have right now......
It makes me wonder if Sundin is actually planning on retiring this summer......
cochise Wrote:It makes me wonder if Sundin is actually planning on retiring this summer......
I'd be surprised if he came back to Toronto at all, especially after this saga. He would have to sign a new contract again and Im sure he would want another NTC, not sure MLSE wants to go down that road again or pay him a high salary. I think he'll retire, or maybe (big maybe) sign with another team...Im sure Leafs fans would love him after that..lol.
Im just glad this team shows no real signs of improving, looks like they'll have to move some younger contract players and buy some players out to get anything back. Now that Mats is staying maybe he'll play so well it will push the team out of the draft lottery, wouldnt that be the icing on the cake! Who knows you may just squeak into the playoffs by some miracle, 7 points back with 20 games left anythings possible. But I doubt it.
Right now Im more anxious to see if Montreal can pull off something, we havent been looking too hot lately, our goaltending has been spotty at best, it seems neithe Huet or Price is ready to run with the starting spot, and we havent been getting much secondary scoring. As for trades Hossa, Jokinen or Tanguay seem to be the main targets, I'd be happy with any of them but Id prefer Hossa we need some extra scoring punch up front. I do like Jokinen and we will need a top centre to replace Koivu sooner rather than later and I think he would fit the bill nicely, but Im not sure Montreal is willing to give up what these teams want and its not like Gainey to make real big deals and mortgage the future for now so to speak. His plan since he got here was to draft well and develop from within and they've done a good job, but were still missing that big piece of the puzzle to put us over the top, I think now is as good of time as any. If not now when? I think it will go either way tomorrow either a big deal for a top player or pretty much nothing, except Im sure Ryder will get traded cause he wont be back next year, cant see them just letting him walk away for nothing.
Not sure if its true, but I just read that McCabe won't waive either.........his pregnant wife does not want to move
Great, so Kaberle, Kubina, Sundin, Tucker and McCabe, all refuse to go. I didn't realize this team was so content with mediocrity.
Sundin aside, no one else named above should have ever been given a NTC. The concept that Kubina or Tucker, who both should be embarased about their performance this year, are saying "nope sorry, too bad, don't wanna move"........
This team is a f^*^^ing sop opera, and one of the bad soap operas too
cochise Wrote:Great, so Kaberle, Kubina, Sundin, Tucker and McCabe, all refuse to go. I didn't realize this team was so content with mediocrity.
thats what surprises me about this team, they know they are trying to rebuild now and it would seem they are going to miss the playoffs again..why would you want to stay? they must really like playing in Toronto, Im sure lots of players would jump at the chance to play for a winning franchise and compete in the playoffs on a yearly basis.
So the Leafs will end up trading their good young prospects for even younger prospects in the form of future draft picks. I would hate to be a Leaf fan these days. (Or any other days for that matter).
I think Gainey should realize that this is the year he can make a move to go deep in the playoffs. If a goalie gets hot (Price last year) the Habs could make the finals. Though you would have to bet they won't due to the play of some of the other teams in the East lately.
LizardKing51 Wrote:cochise Wrote:Great, so Kaberle, Kubina, Sundin, Tucker and McCabe, all refuse to go. I didn't realize this team was so content with mediocrity.
thats what surprises me about this team, they know they are trying to rebuild now and it would seem they are going to miss the playoffs again..why would you want to stay? they must really like playing in Toronto, Im sure lots of players would jump at the chance to play for a winning franchise and compete in the playoffs on a yearly basis.
Put them all on waivers (Sundin excluded), let them play for the Marlies. This team and their NTC's are just a joke, I have never been so frustrated as a Leafs fan as I am today :twisted: :rambo: :twisted: :rambo: