Why No One Should Be Surprised the Leafs Suck (2010/2011 edition)
by Beantown Canuck on Nov 12, 2010 9:27 AM PST
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Well, since we're playing them next, let's discuss those comically disappointing Toronto Maple Leafs. Hockey pundits worldwide (*cough* Zandberg) predicted a noticeable improvement by this year's version, and shocker, they suck suck suck. But I gotta say, to anyone with common sense, wasn't this obvious from the start? To win hockey games, you have to be able to score goals. Not having players who can score goals makes it hard to win hockey games. Let's examine further.
Starting towards the end of last season and through the offseason, the Leafs have traded away Stajan, Ponikarovsky, Hagman, Stempniak, Blake, Stalberg and White (amongst others). Meanwhile, the only "offensive" players they added in return from those many trades are Phaneuf and Versteeg. A huge chunk of their offense gone for a very under-performing return. Numbers, please.
Last year for the Leafs:
Stajan: 16 goals in 55 games, or 0.29 goals per game
Poni: 19 goals in 61 games, or 0.31 GPG
Hagman: 20 goals in 55 games, or 0.36 GPG
Stempniak: 14 goals in 62 games, or 0.23 GPG
Blake: 10 goals in 56 games, or 0.18 GPG
White: 9 goals in 56 games, or 0.16 GPG
Stalberg: 9 goals in 40 games, or 0.23 GPG
If/when all those players were healthy and in the lineup (which I know is not a realistic scenario, but whatevs): that's a total of 1.76 goals per game.
Now what impact have those trades had on this year's lineup?
Versteeg: 2 goals in 14 games, or 0.14 GPG
Phaneuf: 0 goals in 11 games, or 0.00 GPG
So basically, they've traded away 1.76 goals per game for 0.14 goals per game.
Of course, those numbers are very misleading on aggregate because not everyone is in the lineup at the same time, and player roles and icetimes differ depending on who else is available. But in the first 60 games of last season, aka roughly up to when most of these changes were happening, the Leafs were averaging 2.75 goals a game, and since then (i.e. the end of last season combined with this season) they're averaging 2.19 goals a game. And if you don't include out -of-the-blue current phenom UFA pickup Clarke MacArthur, that second number drops to exactly 2.00 goals a game! Seriously... imagine how even MORE awful they would be if MacArthur (I know... who?) wasn't having a shockingly surprising start this season to co-lead the team with 7 goals (including 2 GWG). Wowzers.
Now they're calling up wunderkid Kadri to save the day. Good luck Leafies. The 2014-2024 Boston Bruins love you. The End.
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I take it as a huge compliment that I am the brunt of your jokes at times.
Nucks Misconduct
"Then I will see you in hell!'" - Han Solo
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BEANTOWN AND CC SCHADENFREUDE FOR THE MOTHERFUCKING WIN!
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C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
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by Chuckles Canuckles on Nov 12, 2010 10:53 AM PST reply actions
I hate the CFL
but my room mate is a Leaf and Rider fan. This weekend I want the teams from BC to rip his heart out!!!!!!
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
Nucks Misconduct chief curmudgeon and chief hunk.
by Section 312 on Nov 12, 2010 12:09 PM PST reply actions
It is not physically possible
for me to give less of a shit about the CFL. They should shut it down, pool all the money, and make another hockey team in Canada. Sad thing is that it wouldn’t amount to enough money to build just one franchise.
"Fact is, I cannot be denied. No matter what." - PK Subban
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Nov 12, 2010 1:04 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
That was so on the money it's not funny
Preach on CC. Such a moving quote.
If that was a speech it would go down as one of the best of all time. It’s like “I Have a Dream”, “Ask not what your country can do for you”, “It is not physically possible for me to give less of a shit about the CFL”, and " Four score and seven years ago" in that order.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
Nucks Misconduct chief curmudgeon and chief hunk.
by Section 312 on Nov 12, 2010 1:12 PM PST up reply actions
Thanks Section
Maybe I should be a politician..
"Fact is, I cannot be denied. No matter what." - PK Subban
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Nov 12, 2010 1:47 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah
I don’t think I’ve ever watched the CFL, or cared about who’s doing well, or even know what all the teams are. Aren’t there only 8 or something?
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
Something like that
There should be zero.
"Fact is, I cannot be denied. No matter what." - PK Subban
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Nov 12, 2010 1:48 PM PST up reply actions
Jesus…the best party in any city in Canada every year is the one at the Grey Cup.
Is it really that much of an older generation sport?
Seems to be lots of youngins at games.
Must all be from Surrey…lol
One vote against the tide. Real men only need 2 downs for ten yards, play on a decent size field, and are fast enough to line up one yard off the ball…though they need an extra guy!
And the rouge is just cool…
;-)
"The car suddenly veered off the road and we came to a sliding halt in the gravel. I was hurled against the dashboard. My attorney was slumped over the wheel. "What’s wrong?" I yelled. "We can’t stop here. This is bat country!"
— Hunter S. Thompson
Huh?
No idea what you just said.
I don’t like NFL or UFL or any other “Football” sports. I respect them as athletes from afar but that’s about it. Just my opinion though. I am sure there are reasons people follow it.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
Nucks Misconduct chief curmudgeon and chief hunk.
by Section 312 on Nov 12, 2010 2:10 PM PST up reply actions
It is absolutely ridiculous how obsessed every in the US is about football. I knew they were before, but in the last week all I’ve heard on sports radio/sports TV down here is football football football. I know Canadians are obsessed with hockey, but it’s not on the same level.
That being said, I will watch the last couple weeks of the NFL and the Super Bowl, mainly because my friends and I make a Turducken
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
It's just not for me
I won’t call it boring cause then my love of the real Football and baseball will get thrown in my face. But throwball just doesn’t do anything for me.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
Nucks Misconduct chief curmudgeon and chief hunk.
by Section 312 on Nov 12, 2010 2:38 PM PST up reply actions
I’d rather watch someone throw a football and take a hit than watch 2 guys play catch for 3 hours or watch a bunch of guys diving on the pitch.
See I didn't attack
the sport of football. Just said it wasn’t for me. No need to attack the sports I like.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
Nucks Misconduct chief curmudgeon and chief hunk.
by Section 312 on Nov 14, 2010 10:13 PM PST up reply actions
Watching football is it's own thing
It’s not boring once you start to see the endless strategy that goes into it. Far more a coaches game then say, hockey or basketball. Football is all about the coaches and the players are just pieces with varying attributes. Which is why the NFL is better then the CFL, far less strategy when you only have three downs. It’s like they tried to turn football into a hockey like sport, just watch hockey.
You can’t compare watching hockey and watching NFL. Hockey is a fast paced game and if you take your eyes of the screen for a second you might miss three great plays. Watching an NFL game gives you time between plays to discuss, dissect and review each play. Both are fantastic and watching both make you a more complete person ;)
by Canuckelhead on Nov 14, 2010 11:23 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Sorry
I know football. i understand the game. I get the strategy. Run the ball then play action get the line backer to bite throw a crossing route blah blah blah. Still doesn’t work for me. I know the strategy for backgammon and chess too doesn’t mean I want to watch them on TV. NFL football is for poolies and gamblers. That’s why it’s so successful. I am not into fantasy football and I don’t gamble. I would rather watch Masterpiece Theater on a Sunday.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
Nucks Misconduct chief curmudgeon and chief hunk.
by Section 312 on Nov 14, 2010 11:31 PM PST up reply actions
I love watching the true geniuses at work, like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Otherwise, I couldn’t care less.
by red army line on Nov 15, 2010 10:35 AM PST up reply actions
Hey
I don’t dive!
"Fact is, I cannot be denied. No matter what." - PK Subban
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Nov 14, 2010 10:23 PM PST up reply actions
Those are the differences between ours and the American’s game of “throwball”.
I can understand the dislike. I like it though. Compared to the U.S version, its pretty exciting. The lead can change several times in the last few minutes.
Its funny, the athletes in the NFL are like science experiments, and the CFL ones are usually from the Tier 2 schools, and the guys from the Big Schools that fell through the crack…more real athlete and less freak.
Just a generalization though…
"The car suddenly veered off the road and we came to a sliding halt in the gravel. I was hurled against the dashboard. My attorney was slumped over the wheel. "What’s wrong?" I yelled. "We can’t stop here. This is bat country!"
— Hunter S. Thompson
I can understand the dislike. I like it though. Compared to the U.S version, its pretty exciting. The lead can change several times in the last few minutes.
Yeah, I like how the games are not always over in the last 5 minutes. There’s more wacky and/or close finishes than in the NFL, where there’s more blowouts or taking knees to run out the clock.
Not saying the CFL is better but it’s not that bad to watch/follow.
Go Lions!
Poutine & Meatballs
Lawyered?
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
Just FYI, not to stoke the flames or anything.
One of the hottest teams comes to town for a Sat night tilt.
The first ten minutes of TSN just now? Full coverage of NAZEM, and a full panel afterwards.
Not one mention of the opponent…wait no…they Kyronned that NAZEM would debut against the Nucks….
just sayin’
"The car suddenly veered off the road and we came to a sliding halt in the gravel. I was hurled against the dashboard. My attorney was slumped over the wheel. "What’s wrong?" I yelled. "We can’t stop here. This is bat country!"
— Hunter S. Thompson
TSN
= Toronto Sports Network.
"Fact is, I cannot be denied. No matter what." - PK Subban
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Nov 12, 2010 3:28 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe they are saving us for Prime Time out here?
But yes, that acronym is accurate.
"The car suddenly veered off the road and we came to a sliding halt in the gravel. I was hurled against the dashboard. My attorney was slumped over the wheel. "What’s wrong?" I yelled. "We can’t stop here. This is bat country!"
— Hunter S. Thompson
I always felt,
That the Canucks and Senators could be in game 7 of the stanely cup final and TSN would be doing an hour long special on the Maple Leafs celebrity golf tournament, “Sundin what a golfer, I guess thats thanks to all that practice over his career! laughs ok and now one last thing before we wrap up tonights broadcast the Ottawa Senators are in Vancouver for game 7 of the stanely cup finals, Alright thats a wrap tune in tomorrow for more highlights from the celebrity golf tournament and remember to vote on this weeks power poll, Which Toronto Maple Leaf has the best tan?”
Don't drink and park, accidents cause people!
If it ain't got a packet, go home and whack it.
I'm just a loser geek, crazy with an evil streak! -- everclear
I totally failed
misspelled Stanley
Don't drink and park, accidents cause people!
If it ain't got a packet, go home and whack it.
I'm just a loser geek, crazy with an evil streak! -- everclear
The Significant Other...
…Was a street kid in Toronto for a couple years during the Ballard era. She just flat-out stopped watching hockey until she left town (unless they were playing the Bruins).
Flying that Nerd Flag high!
You forgot about Colby Armstrong! How could you forget about the offensive might of Colby Armstrong?!?
or the Defensive prowess of Dion! Oh wait…….
Frequent visitor to Nucks Misconduct.
Just want to get promoted to the big leagues.
by Vancouverguy on Nov 13, 2010 9:30 AM PST up reply actions
DION NOT GOOD DEFENSIVELY
DION NOT CARE!
"Fact is, I cannot be denied. No matter what." - PK Subban
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Nov 13, 2010 9:33 PM PST up reply actions
Stalberg
Just scored a much-needed GWG goal in OT for the Blackhawks. How’s Versteeg doing for the Leafs, eh?
by Beantown Canuck on Nov 14, 2010 6:46 PM PST reply actions
Versteeg’s PDO is 93.6% and he’s third on the Leafs in QoC. (Phaneuf’s PDO is also only 92.5%). Versteeg and Phaneuf are 4 and 5 on the Leafs in 5-on-5 TOI per game, so once their PDOs come back up, the Leafs should be much better.
That being said, they’ll probably still be too bad to make the playoffs. I thought they’d be much better. Apparently not.
by red army line on Nov 15, 2010 10:39 AM PST up reply actions
It seems that everyone (including TO management) thought they were good enough to make the dance.
I’ve disagreed emphatically from the start. Tampa might make it though.
"Fact is, I cannot be denied. No matter what." - PK Subban
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Nov 15, 2010 10:52 AM PST up reply actions
Tampa probably will. Playing in that division helps. Having a superstar, and pretty stacked top-two lines helps.
Having some depth in D helps also.
Toronto just won’t score enough to make it into the playoffs methinks.
Frequent visitor to Nucks Misconduct.
Just want to get promoted to the big leagues.
by Vancouverguy on Nov 16, 2010 10:48 AM PST up reply actions
That's
Their major problem. They’re actually doing pretty well on the defensive end of things, 4th in shots against per game, and still top half in GA/G.
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
This is why some Leaf fans still
claim they liked the Kessel trade. Cause they needed offense. Not that Seguin, Kadri, and someone like Nugent-Hopkins wouldn’t have provided a ton of offense for years to come had they kept their picks.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
Nucks Misconduct chief curmudgeon and chief hunk.
by Section 312 on Nov 16, 2010 2:30 PM PST up reply actions
yeah
That’s the major flaw I see in that trade as well. The Kessel trade is a trade you make if you think you have what it takes to make a push for the finals within a couple years, not when you are scraping the bottom and need to rebuild
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
Have you heard Sean?
That Couturier kid’s pretty good.
Frequent visitor to Nucks Misconduct.
Just want to get promoted to the big leagues.
by Vancouverguy on Nov 16, 2010 4:06 PM PST up reply actions
Toronto just won’t score enough to make it into the playoffs methinks.
Yeah I think I read someone explaining about that in an article somewhere…
by Beantown Canuck on Nov 16, 2010 2:11 PM PST up reply actions
Bahh… Next time I’ll put: as per Beantown at the end of it.
Frequent visitor to Nucks Misconduct.
Just want to get promoted to the big leagues.
by Vancouverguy on Nov 16, 2010 4:07 PM PST up reply actions
For a while, the Leafs' wiki article read:
To the surprise of most of Leafs Nation, the Leafs started off the 2010-2011 season with a 4-0 start. However, as expected by the rest of the world, the Leafs went on to lose 8 straight, culminating in a 5-6-5 record by mid-November. General Manager Brian Burke had expressed a desire to reach the post-season in the 2010-2011 season, but it appears the Leafs are destined to finish in the bottom 5 of the league and give Boston another lottery pick, to add onto Tyler Seguin, the 2010 2nd overall pick acquired by Boston in the Phil Kessel trade.16
It was great while it lasted.
"Fact is, I cannot be denied. No matter what." - PK Subban
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Nov 15, 2010 8:47 PM PST reply actions
Leafs deriding aside
Mike Brown’s moustache is motherfucking awesome.
"Fact is, I cannot be denied. No matter what." - PK Subban
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Nov 17, 2010 3:43 PM PST reply actions
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