[skippy the wonder dog]

It's pretty clear from his interview with TSN that JFJ wasn't happy with Raycroft's play this season.

I think the only person happy with Raycroft's play this season was Raycroft. His "I won 37 games this season" comment was beyond ridiculous. It appears that his true skill in life is sticking his head up his ass.

Right, but no player with an eye on his future income is going to say to a reporter....

"Yeah, I really blew this season. I mean, I was barely borderline competent and really fucked the whole team over, and I'm a big reason why the team screwed the pooch and didn't make the playoffs. The only reason I managed to win 37 games is that the season is so damn long, and I played so much. I mean, shit, even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while, right? And even a blind goaltender can win the odd game!" (Laughs.)

btw, I don't think Mtl can blame Huet's injury. Obviously it hurt them, but all it really did was expose their other weaknesses. That and a certain problem with Russians is what kept them out of the playoffs.

[cferneyh]

It's pretty clear from his interview with TSN that JFJ wasn't happy with Raycroft's play this season.

I think the only person happy with Raycroft's play this season was Raycroft. His "I won 37 games this season" comment was beyond ridiculous. It appears that his true skill in life is sticking his head up his ass.

Right, but no player with an eye on his future income is going to say to a reporter....

"Yeah, I really blew this season. I mean, I was barely borderline competent and really fucked the whole team over, and I'm a big reason why the team screwed the pooch and didn't make the playoffs. The only reason I managed to win 37 games is that the season is so damn long, and I played so much. I mean, shit, even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while, right? And even a blind goaltender can win the odd game!" (Laughs.)

I agree with you to a certain point. It's the "I" won 37 games that really gets me, and there are much better ways of articulating that without coming across as so cavalier.

I thought that I played well during some stretches, and was inconsistent at other times. I know I'm capable of playing better and fully expect to play better next season.

Or something like that.

I thought my brain was going to explode when I read the "I won 37 games" quote. I haven't disliked a Leaf goalie this much since Allan Bester (and my dislike of that midget goes back to something that happened between he and I when I was 14 years old...the little bastard).

[tfoe]

GO NUCKS!!!!

:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

[emperor penguin]

I haven't disliked a Leaf goalie this much since Allan Bester (and my dislike of that midget goes back to something that happened between he and I when I was 14 years old...the little bastard).

now you've piqued my curiosity :lol: :lol: what happened there?

[Hard Canadian]

GO NUCKS!!!!

:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

GO CANUCKS GO!!!!!!!!!!! whats it been, 13 years since they reached the final? it's Vancouvers turn to represent the west/Canada in the final. Calgary and Edmonton couldn't pull it off, Vancouver can! :thumb:

[Lizard King]

Its only been 3 days since the season ended, and Im already pissed. Someone tell Gainey to get his head out of his ass. Im paraphrasing what he said to the media yesterday, but you get the gist...

"Kovalev can bounce back and have a better year next year, we want to keep him"

Moron!! Are you kidding me? Not at 4.5 million, tell that floater to take a pay cut or get the hell out of town.

"We want to build around Koivu, we're not a rebuilding team"

What the hell are we then, cause were a hell of a long way away from being cup contenders, I'd settle for 8th place at this point. This team needs help big time, if they really want to compete they better convince some really good players to come to Montreal...and that's going to be Gainey's biggest challenge. Why on earth would someone like Briere want to go to Montreal when almost every team in the league will try to sign him this summer? On the upside, Markov wants to stay, Im sure he will sign and apparently so does Souray but Ill believe that when I see it.

I respect Gainey, but he's talking out his ass imo. Ill let it slide if he can somehow pull off a decent trade involving Samsonov, but I really see him being bought out instead. It seems he's given up on Mike Johnson, not sure why I thought he played hard all year, he's a solid 3rd line forward. Thankfully he's contemplating losing Bonk, that I like, he's a bum imo.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=203630&hubname=nhl">http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=203630&hubname=nhl</a><!-- m -->

Please sign a superstar, we need one bad!!!!!!!

[tigerthelion]

If you talked to people in society like you talk on hipbase, you'd get the shit kicked out of you. :lol: :lol:

Why? Because I don't share your opinion? Because I don't back down when I think I'm right? Because I don't run away when you type in caps?

Me tiger! You agree with me or me punch!

Tiger, since you apparently haven't grasped the concept of a discussion forum, let me dumb it down for you.

dis·cuss (dĭ-skŭs') pronunciation
tr.v., -cussed, -cuss·ing, -cuss·es.

1. To speak with another or others about; talk over.
2. To examine or consider (a subject) in speech or writing.

Is that clear? Do you understand what that means? If you can't handle the concept of people not agreeing with you 100% of the time, I think you need to find another online hangout.

This is an NHL thread but, yeah, I thought the talk of Sundin's failure to get his team into the playoffs for two consecutive seasons warranted a mention. :rambo: Your denial of Sundin's continual failure as a captain is quite endearing though. :rambo:

Captains of NHL teams who have failed to make the playoffs on more than one occasion while they were captain:

- Mark Messier
- Wayne Gretzky
- Steve Yzerman
- Mario Lemieux
- Saku Koivu
- Brian Leetch

And that's just off the top of my head. Need I go on? Or are you going to tell me that those guys were failures as well? Colorado didn't make the playoffs as well. Does that mean Joe Sakic is a failure?

And please don't give me the "well, they won Cups" at some point in their career, and if you do - point me to one Leaf roster where Sundin had a supporting cast that was even remotely close to what those guys had. I dare you. Do you remember who the captain was of the team that won the gold medal in hockey in 2006? Amazing what some players can do when they've got a supporting cast, eh?

I am enjoying your newfound obsession with the Leafs though. I'm starting to think maybe you've got a bit of a thing for Sundin, given the amount of time you seem to be spending reading about him while claiming to not be a fan.

It's fine that you don't share my opinion. I don't expect you too. If I couldn't handle people not agreeing with me, I'd have left this forum two days after I joined. hock:

It's ridiculous to dismiss Cup winners. That's the whole point of playing hockey. Sundin had plenty of talent to make a run at a Cup. Your argument is weak. BTW, do you double dare me? When it's all said and done, Sundin is not going down as a great leader, regardless of what you think. :wink:

You're a notorious stat man, in that you think stats are the be all and end all. One stat that, no matter how hard you try, you have no comeback for is this: Sundin-0 Stanley Cups. Hell, he hasn't even led the Leafs to a Conference Final. :lol: :lol:

Koivu and Naslund are also poor leaders.

I didn't say you would get the shit kicked out of you because you disagree with me. The reason you would get the shit kicked out of you is because of your smugness and juvenile name calling. It's easy to be arrogant on a message board. Heck, I probably come off as a prick on here. It's different out in the "real world."

[tigerthelion]

Here's another one for the person (who shall remain nameless) who believes that injuries shouldn't be used as an excuse.

"The competitive balance in the league has never been greater and, had it not been for injuries, the Leafs might have made it into the postseason," he (Ferguson)said.


Sure looks like Buffalo isn't the only team to whine about injuries, eh Toronto fans? First, the team's "leader" basically blamed injuries for the team missing the playoffs and now the team's "general manager" has blamed injuries. I feel bad for Toronto. I think they were the only team that had to deal with injuries this past season. hock:

Notice the use of the word "might". Do I need to post the definition of that word for you too?

Anyone who followed the Leafs knows that the only reason they didn't make the playoffs was because of Raycroft. When a team finishes 8th in goals for, 8th in shots against, but 25th in GAA, well, even a simpleton can conclude what that means.

JFJ is simply trying to deflect attention away from an under-performer. He's not writing letters to the NHL whining about injuries.

He shouldn't even hint at injuries at being an excuse. Whether he said 'might' or 'possibly' or 'maybe', it doesn't matter. JFJ is whining about injuries. If you weren't so blinded by your Leaf loyalty you would see that. Grimes has seen the light. It's time you opened your eyes and stopped dissecting the semantics of Ferguson's words. hock:

[tigerthelion]

Here's another one for the person (who shall remain nameless) who believes that injuries shouldn't be used as an excuse.

"The competitive balance in the league has never been greater and, had it not been for injuries, the Leafs might have made it into the postseason," he (Ferguson)said.


Sure looks like Buffalo isn't the only team to whine about injuries, eh Toronto fans? First, the team's "leader" basically blamed injuries for the team missing the playoffs and now the team's "general manager" has blamed injuries. I feel bad for Toronto. I think they were the only team that had to deal with injuries this past season. hock:

The comments from JFJ, Sundin, Tucker, McCabe, and Raycroft over the last few days illustrate exactly what is wrong with this organization. This article from today's paper sums it up nicely as well:

Said Tucker, to cap the lunacy: "My personal opinion is I don't think we're far off where we need to be ... to get to a championship."
One supposes Mars, in the grand scheme of the cosmos, isn't far off from Cape Canaveral. But one suspects humans will land on the red planet before the Leafs next get their lips on a shiny mug that isn't brought to them by a waitress.

Now, there is a Toronto fan who thinks clearly. :thumb:

[emperor penguin]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=203630&hubname=nhl">http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=203630&hubname=nhl</a><!-- m -->

Please sign a superstar, we need one bad!!!!!!!

I agree with pretty much everything you said Lizard,

Gainey is also in "strong" negotiations with Russian defenceman Pavel Valentenko, a promising 2006 draft pick, and in "less strong" talks with Alexei Yemelin, another Russian blue-liner drafted in 2004.

great, just what they need, more Russians. The Habs need to get a big name player who can add some scoring punch and a solid stay at home D-man. It'd be nice if they could keep Souray and Markov. Huet played pretty well this year, even though he played terribly against the Leafs in the last game, although that could have been expected after such a long layoff. Also, I agree that they should try and keep Johnson, he was one of their better players in the home stretch.

[fingernailsonhull]

Sundin-0 Stanley Cups. Hell, he hasn't even led the Leafs to a Conference Final. :lol: :lol:

Do you mean they have never won a conference final? Because then the more logical statement would be "he hasn't even led the Leafs to a Conference Championship."

If you mean the Leafs have never competed in a conference final under Sundin's leadership:

1999 vs. Buffalo
2002 vs. Carolina

[grimes]

Here's another one for the person (who shall remain nameless) who believes that injuries shouldn't be used as an excuse.

"The competitive balance in the league has never been greater and, had it not been for injuries, the Leafs might have made it into the postseason," he (Ferguson)said.

Sure looks like Buffalo isn't the only team to whine about injuries, eh Toronto fans? First, the team's "leader" basically blamed injuries for the team missing the playoffs and now the team's "general manager" has blamed injuries. I feel bad for Toronto. I think they were the only team that had to deal with injuries this past season. hock:

The comments from JFJ, Sundin, Tucker, McCabe, and Raycroft over the last few days illustrate exactly what is wrong with this organization. This article from today's paper sums it up nicely as well:

Said Tucker, to cap the lunacy: "My personal opinion is I don't think we're far off where we need to be ... to get to a championship."
One supposes Mars, in the grand scheme of the cosmos, isn't far off from Cape Canaveral. But one suspects humans will land on the red planet before the Leafs next get their lips on a shiny mug that isn't brought to them by a waitress.

Now, there is a Toronto fan who thinks clearly. :thumb:

Well I do try my best to avoid drinking the MLSE kool-aid. There are a few of us Leafs' fans out there that aren't completely delusional, but sadly we are in the minority.

Do you mean they have never won a conference final? Because then the more logical statement would be "he hasn't even led the Leafs to a Conference Championship."

If you mean the Leafs have never competed in a conference final under Sundin's leadership:

1999 vs. Buffalo
2002 vs. Carolina

Under Sundin's leadership eh? Well I'll give you 1999, but I seem to remember 2002 being the year the Leafs won the first two rounds while Sundin was injuired, and when he returned for the conference final, they promptly lost to the Carolina Hurricanes.

[direwolf74]

Hell of a game right now between San Jose and Nashville. It's ridiculous how evenly matched these two teams are.

[cferneyh]

It's ridiculous to dismiss Cup winners.

Uh, when did I dismiss Cup winners? I said to show me a Leaf team captained by Sundin that has had a roster as deep as the teams that were led by the other captains I named who have won Cups.

Sundin had plenty of talent to make a run at a Cup. Your argument is weak.

Still waiting for you to show me those "talented" Leaf rosters. Which ones would those be - the ones that didn't have a strong #2 centre? The ones where Sundin's wingers were an end of the line Steve Thomas or an end of the line Gary Roberts? Please, I'd love to see what you label as talented Leaf rosters.

When it's all said and done, Sundin is not going down as a great leader, regardless of what you think.

Perhaps in your world, but thankfully, I don't live in your world.

The reason you would get the shit kicked out of you is because of your smugness and juvenile name calling.

Hello kettle? This is pot calling......

[cferneyh]

I haven't disliked a Leaf goalie this much since Allan Bester (and my dislike of that midget goes back to something that happened between he and I when I was 14 years old...the little bastard).

now you've piqued my curiosity :lol: :lol: what happened there?

My buddy's dad was an NHL linesman. When we were 14 he took us to a pre-season game he was doing in Buffalo between the Leafs and Sabres. After the game we waited outside the ref's locker room and he tried to get us in to meet the Leafs (because he knew I was a huge fan). So we were waiting outside of the Leaf's dressing room while he talked to the trainer and Allan Bester - who didn't even play - was sitting there and said something along the lines of: "what the hell do these punk kids want?" So the trainer told us it wasn't a good time to come in. :x

But Russ Courtnall and Tom Fergus did eventually come out and give us sticks. I kept the Tom Fergus stick for a few years.....until I realized that it was a Tom Fergus stick. :lol: