Richards is worth it. Also, nice to see Big Buff ballin'!Quote:
Originally Posted by haohmaru
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Richards is worth it. Also, nice to see Big Buff ballin'!Quote:
Originally Posted by haohmaru
I think things are the opposite of what you're saying, but you're entitled to your opinion, haoh.Quote:
Originally Posted by haohmaru
As for Richards, funny as this may sound, I'm not crazy about him yet I would be for the Leafs getting him by overpaying him as long as the term is reasonable (let's just say 5 years $40M for the sake of example). It works with my sense of value and the dynamics of the situation.
That's for Richards, I'm not saying the Leafs should throw that money at anyone else. Or take on the radioactive contract of Lecavalier, etcetera.
Leafs beating the Bruins in Boston yesterday and then today finally winning in Buffalo? Aw yeah!
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._8376811_n.jpg
Took this pic in the Devils store.
If he's not building via UFA's, then why is dangling around his 1st round pick? I dunno, the Leafs have been such a mess. I hate seeing original six teams (because they have the most fans) wallowing in misery year after year. They've been pretty good the last week or so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Geo
I never happen to watch these games.Quote:
Originally Posted by Geo
:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Cowutopia
He said he's open to trading the PHI 1st for the right deal, but pretty much any GM can say that. He offered the PHI 3rd in a deal for a forward, no news on that yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by haohmaru
It's pretty much the same story as it's been the last number of years, the key is that the Leafs need consistently good goaltending (which they are now getting out of young Reimer). No surprise each year the Leafs haven't had it, they missed the playoffs. Particularly now as the defense is prone to mistakes (partly because they're asked to be aggressive) and the offense doesn't have all the talent it needs. Ron Wilson isn't the best fit for a coach, but he's not horrible and Burke is going to give him 2011 to make the playoffs with the talented they've acquired and developed to that point.
I can't say it hasn't been a mess, the results have definitely been poor to this point, but I don't think they aren't that far off. If they can add a #1 center then I think many things will fall in place and the results would be much better, but that's no easy task to just add a #1 center. Not at all.
Which is why I wouldn't be surprised if Burke, who doesn't pay huge money to forwards, decided to get into the bidding war for Richards. Fuck it, they have the cash and it's better the Leafs overspend when the cash/cap is the asset being spent, instead of having to trade assets like prospects like Kadri and picks to acquire a center (best case, prying Stastny out of Colorado? Spezza?) who has large salaries anyways.
Side note: But my expectation is/remains that the Rangers will sign Richards. Or at least he'll sign elsewhere, not Toronto. Let's be real, the only way he'd come to Toronto is for the money. The team could be very successful with him, but to actually come to this frenzied fishbowl market and sign with the team, it would only be because of the money.[/side note]
The Leafs have drafted very well the last two years under Burke, they drafted well before that with their scouting staff (including top Euro scout Thommie Bergman), but as we know have traded away their picks (and not even bringing back youngsters like Kessel). Prospect-wise they are now stacked at defense and goaltending. They are okay at forward, but could do with adding more of the kids they've drafted in the last two years.
The key thing is to let the kids properly develop and hopefully bring them into a winning environment. But the Leafs have gotten younger under Burke, and slowly but surely he's building the big club up even though it hasn't come together on the ice yet.
Ahh, sorry for the long ramble, I wanted to avoid doing that.
Shame, the Buffalo game might have been their best game all year so far and the Boston game wasn't far behind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brisco Bold
But there's the upcoming game against Ottawa, a Saturday game the Leafs might actually win. ;)
And then home to the Islanders, at Montreal (hopefully not another disappointment like a few days ago), home to the Punchy Penguins, and at Atlanta. Then comes an incredibly difficult schedule for all of March. :cry:
I can't believe Predators/Canucks isn't being televised locally, but at least it looks like Nashville is going to hang on 3 - 1.
Big win for Nashville to keep in front of the huge logjam in the West standings.
Saw some of the highlights on NHLN, including Fisher's first goal in Nashville.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jyoung
Sounded like a great game. Caught the last half of the 3rd on the radio.
Trying to keep an eye on the Pacific Division as Phoenix, Dallas, and San Jose are all really close to us, but 1 of those is gonna be #3 regardless. Which ever 2 are not #1 we need to watch out for. Looks like it is just Calgary in the Northwest we need to watch out for.
I was disappointed about the overtime loss between San Jose the other night, but Pekka Rinne continues to prove himself as an amazing goalie with 48 saves that game.