palhal

LongtimeLeafsufferer
Member Since
Jul 12, 2015
Favourite Team
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location
Georgian Bay
Forum Posts
30508
Posts per Day
17.6
Forum Threads
314
Biography
Have followed sports most of my 60 years. Long time Toronto resident now retired by the lake, north west of TO
Forum: Armchair-GM8 hours ago
Forum: Armchair-GM16 hours ago
Thread: Opening Night-CBJ Blockbuster
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>TML_Tika</b></div><div>I actually think there is no way that the Leafs would be wasting this much time and resources scouting and courting Barabanov if he could not play. May be wrong but I think he is going to play really well with other highly skilled players like Tavares, Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Rielly. The Leafs were the best fit for Barabanov to be successful in the NHL.

I have been waiting for years for the Leafs to win another cup and I can smell the finish line right now just can not predict the exact date but know it is going to happen in the next 5 years.

Not saying you are wrong but I am just choosing to be a believer as thing the fun is just starting.</div></div>

LOL. See how long have you waiting for the Leaf to win another Cup? Check MY profile... I've been waiting longer.
Forum: Armchair-GMTue at 8:04 pm
Thread: Sweet ReLeaf for Cap Troubles
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>JumboFett</b></div><div>So what you're saying is that we're all imagining that at the beginning of the season Kyle Dubas took on Horton's and Clarkson's contracts in order to fit his incredibly top heavy forward group under the cap? That if we didn't venture over to the Leafs' CapFriendly profile we wouldn't see that they've been operating at $10M over the cap all season? You sure dude?

As for our GAA, yes, there was a huge shakeup with some Sharks veterans leaving, and there's been a period of cultural readjustment since. But, ignoring our obvious need for above par goaltending, when the D plays cohesively Burns and Karlsson are almost point per game players, and Vlasic is still considered one of the best defensive defensmen in the league. But at least we won't have to struggle year after year until the cap increases $10M to find LTIR contracts to exploit a cap. I'm not saying it wasn't a smart play on KD's part, but it is basically legal cheating.</div></div>

So tell me what the benefit of having Clarkson's to the Leaf last year. I know the answer, but it did not benefit the Leafs at all last year. Other teams have players on LTIR, it doesn't help them circumvent the cap
As for the Leaf defence, yep it's the weakest part of the team. But the worse Dman last season Barrie won't be back. Ceci and his average play and his 4.5m cap hit is gone. Three of the top six were...Reilly, Muzzin, and Dermot were all on LTIR. Sorry Sharks have an aging team with some iffy contracts, just might be untradeable with those NTCs. Don't know so many think the Leaf have so many cap and personnel issues. Lots of teams have more.
Forum: Armchair-GMTue at 9:12 am
Thread: Building a weird team to make things work
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>MMXD</b></div><div>Wdym you hate the thought of Clifford. Clifford is that gritty player they’ve been looking for. And wdym Robertson shouldn’t be a leaf? He was on pace for 60+ goals in the OHL. Robertson should have been given the chance this season. Robertson will be given that chance, and you’re a fool the think he shouldn’t.</div></div>

Grit is usually a word used folks when they mean not very effective hockey player. If forced to Clifford maybe he finds a spot on the top fourteen, but he's just not that good.
Only a fool thinks a junior stats have that much meaning when he translates to NHL capabilities. The Leafs have high scoring junior whiz Brooks playing for the past two years with the Marlies. He is iffy at best to be considered an NHLer. Now I believe that Robertson will be given a chance, but it unlikely he is NHL ready next season, though he certainly appears he can be an NHLer at some time.