It's almost NHL season again *sigh*...I think it's going to be a very long season for me. My early prediction for the Cup is Pittsburgh. I think that adding Phil Kessel just gives them another very scary offensive threat capable of racking up 90+ points. If Crosby can stay healthy and Fleury can perform strongly, they will be near unbeatable.

The Maple Leafs have hit some form under messiah Mike Babcock. Watched the game against Colorado yesterday, totally outplayed them in 5 - 1 win.

from being 2-7-2 they now 6 - 9 - 4.. only narrowly lost a couple too.

Any Leafs fans here? young gun Willie Nylander in the 2's is basically Jesse Hogan.

GO LEAFS!

  On 19/11/2015 at 05:43, 3Dee said:

The Maple Leafs have hit some form under messiah Mike Babcock. Watched the game against Colorado yesterday, totally outplayed them in 5 - 1 win.

from being 2-7-2 they now 6 - 9 - 4.. only narrowly lost a couple too.

Any Leafs fans here? young gun Willie Nylander in the 2's is basically Jesse Hogan.

GO LEAFS!

Massive Leafs fan. I've been very impressed with them this year and what Mike Babcock has managed to achieve in such a short period of time. They're finally playing as a team, and are seeing the benefits of it.

Nylander looks the goods...his hands are unbelievably quick.

I don't think playoffs are in the equation this year, but it's nice to see competitive efforts, and for once having a few decent prospects. I can't recall the last good player that the Leafs drafted and developed.

Nice to have a fellow Leafs fan around!

Meh Avs can't stop allowing teams to have 90 shots on goal a game. Berra has had some great games but we won't make playoffs again this year Roy and Dakic have to be on shakey ground.

It's a long season and teams can suddenly come back into it with a streak of wins ... my Canucks are going the other way at the moment after having a reasonable start to the season.

I always look at it in terms of wins back or wins in front ... the Maple Leafs are less than 2 wins back from a playoff spot whilst the Avs are in a similar position. String 3 or 4 wins together and the thinking changes.

Having said all that the Rangers, Montreal, Dallas & St Louis are all playing really well ... the Sharks & Kings are stringing some wins together as well. It's too early to call but the half way mark does give us a much clearer picture. Washington & Pittsburgh are 2 more teams to watch out for.

  On 21/11/2015 at 00:38, Macca said:

It's a long season and teams can suddenly come back into it with a streak of wins ... my Canucks are going the other way at the moment after having a reasonable start to the season.

I always look at it in terms of wins back or wins in front ... the Maple Leafs are less than 2 wins back from a playoff spot whilst the Avs are in a similar position. String 3 or 4 wins together and the thinking changes.

Having said all that the Rangers, Montreal, Dallas & St Louis are all playing really well ... the Sharks & Kings are stringing some wins together as well. It's too early to call but the half way mark does give us a much clearer picture. Washington & Pittsburgh are 2 more teams to watch out for.

Macca come on, thrashed the Habs but they had so many shots it was ridiculous. We really are struggling team yet have had so much early round talent... Hhhmmm who does that remind me of?!

  On 21/11/2015 at 08:51, Cards13 said:

Macca come on, thrashed the Habs but they had so many shots it was ridiculous. We really are struggling team yet have had so much early round talent... Hhhmmm who does that remind me of?!

ha ha ... just trying to keep the hope alive Cards

Quite seriously, I have seen any number of teams in all sorts of sports get on a run ... we all have.

I'd agree a team needs a good dose of talent to win the whole thing ... the best teams stand out but 16 teams do get into the playoffs. Think it was just a couple/few years ago where a stack of the lower seeded teams kept winning their playoff series' as well. Sometimes just getting in the playoffs can mean a real opportunity.

At this early stage the Stanley cup will be won by one of about 8-10 teams ... the Blackhawks are also hovering and the Red Wings are thereabouts as well. I can see the Canucks perhaps scraping in but we're no real threat.

  On 21/11/2015 at 09:15, Macca said:

ha ha ... just trying to keep the hope alive Cards

Quite seriously, I have seen any number of teams in all sorts of sports get on a run ... we all have.

I'd agree a team needs a good dose of talent to win the whole thing ... the best teams stand out but 16 teams do get into the playoffs. Think it was just a couple/few years ago where a stack of the lower seeded teams kept winning their playoff series' as well. Sometimes just getting in the playoffs can mean a real opportunity.

At this early stage the Stanley cup will be won by one of about 8-10 teams ... the Blackhawks are also hovering and the Red Wings are thereabouts as well. I can see the Canucks perhaps scraping in but we're no real threat.

The Avs had a great run at doing just that 3 seasons ago... Lost in first rnd of the playoffs and have not made it since. Something is seriously lacking and Roy is a nut bag.

Macca I know it is the end of a long road trip but f me. Smashed 7-4. Down 3-0 in the first. Starting to really smell at the Avs. As I said Roy and Sakic may be gawnski before/at the end of the season if this doesn't turn around.

  On 22/11/2015 at 07:27, Cards13 said:

Macca I know it is the end of a long road trip but f me. Smashed 7-4. Down 3-0 in the first. Starting to really smell at the Avs. As I said Roy and Sakic may be gawnski before/at the end of the season if this doesn't turn around.

You've convinced me ... ah well. there's other sports.

I'm more about the comp with ice hockey, NBA & MLB. I prefer to watch the stars and big match-ups. Soccer the same. The NFL as well really but I'm more team orientated with the Packers being a favourite.

  On 21/11/2015 at 09:15, Macca said:

ha ha ... just trying to keep the hope alive Cards

Quite seriously, I have seen any number of teams in all sorts of sports get on a run ... we all have.

I'd agree a team needs a good dose of talent to win the whole thing ... the best teams stand out but 16 teams do get into the playoffs. Think it was just a couple/few years ago where a stack of the lower seeded teams kept winning their playoff series' as well. Sometimes just getting in the playoffs can mean a real opportunity.

At this early stage the Stanley cup will be won by one of about 8-10 teams ... the Blackhawks are also hovering and the Red Wings are thereabouts as well. I can see the Canucks perhaps scraping in but we're no real threat.

Teams like the Blackhawks and Red Wings seem to do just enough to make the playoffs and back themselves once they are there.

Macca your Canuckleheads got it done late against my Blackhawks today. I'll be copping [censored] from a Canucks mate this week.

  On 22/11/2015 at 07:57, Clintosaurus said:

Teams like the Blackhawks and Red Wings seem to do just enough to make the playoffs and back themselves once they are there.

The regular season is all about getting enough points to get into the final 16

Vancouver have been good enough to make the playoffs in the recent past but have been abysmal once making it.

To be perfectly honest, I don't take it too seriously but enjoy watching the games ... and playoff hockey is fabulous.

awesome GTG ! Does this mean we can have a TML discussion thread on here?

Edited November 24, 20159 yr by 3Dee

  On 24/11/2015 at 02:19, 3Dee said:

awesome GTG ! Does this mean we can have a TML discussion thread on here?

Maybe when they become an exciting team to follow!

Bernier dumped!

  On 30/11/2015 at 00:49, 3Dee said:

Bernier dumped!

About time! He's been brutal for a long time now. Hoping that Sparks can give us something!

  On 30/11/2015 at 21:39, Good Times Grimes said:

About time! He's been brutal for a long time now. Hoping that Sparks can give us something!

A shutout will do! He became the first Maple Leaf in history to get a shutout on debut. Well done!

Sparks seems like a good dude, starting today against the Jets. Bernier down to the Marlies.

 

  On 02/12/2015 at 23:53, 3Dee said:

Sparks seems like a good dude, starting today against the Jets. Bernier down to the Marlies.

 

Didn't go as well as you would have hoped against the Jets, though the team in front of him did him no favours. 

It would be a hard life being a Maple Leafs goalie.

saw the highlight v blues yesterday, sparks was excellent.

meanwhile Bernier has 2 shutouts at the Marlies all praise babcock!

Edited December 7, 20159 yr by 3Dee

Are you across these Stamkos rumours GTG? Leafs v Bolts tomorrow, the crowd should warm to him like the Cats & Dangerfield..

  On 15/12/2015 at 02:59, 3Dee said:

Are you across these Stamkos rumours GTG? Leafs v Bolts tomorrow, the crowd should warm to him like the Cats & Dangerfield..

I like what I'm hearing so far. There has long been talk of him one day coming to the Leafs, so hopefully it comes to fruition. It's been a while since we've had a real star player. Sundin was probably the last one.

Word is that Bernier is going to get the start against Tampa, with Sparks to be backup. Looks like Sparks will be sent back to the AHL when Reimer returns. I wouldn't be surprised to see Reimer traded at the deadline.

Kessel? Bernier shut out the Kings, Leafs 10 - 6 - 5 since Nov. Komarov continues to light it up. go Leafs!

  On 21/12/2015 at 00:06, 3Dee said:

Kessel? Bernier shut out the Kings, Leafs 10 - 6 - 5 since Nov. Komarov continues to light it up. go Leafs!

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, 3Dee...we're still tied for last in the league on points, and our current goaltending stocks do not inspire a great deal of confidence. I'm happy that we're competitive in most games and that a few players (like Leo) seem to be thriving under Babcock, but I think we'll be down near the bottom for the rest of the season. 

I'm okay with that though...word is that Auston Matthews is a decent player, and if we can somehow add Stamkos as well we'll be in decent shape heading into next season.

Watched game yesterday against the Avs, started horribly but after 10mins they looked the goods. If they win again today that's a nice little streak heading to Xmas break. 

World Juniors start in next few days, look forward to seeing Nylander do some damage.