In years past, those of us who live and die by the puck in TO could easily use the phrase 'more of the same' to describe tonight's skirmish.
More of the same old Leafs playing a half decent game and following it up with a 3-2 uninspired loss to the Stanley Cup finalist, Pittsburgh Penguins.
More of the same usual suspects pointing fingers indicate in their best playground voice, "I told you so".
More of the same Leafs. Perennial losers. Except for '74-'79, '85-'87, '92-'94 and 99-2004. Perennial losers but only half the time. I always find it fascinating that Leaf haters contend the Leafs have sucked forever, but I digress.
Tonight was different a sort of 'more of the same'. Tonight was more of the same hard nosed, defensive style play we saw on Monday night.
Let's be completely honest, those first 2 goals we're hardly what you would call good goals. Two attempted cross crease passes deflected into the net by a incorrectly angled skate by a sophomore defenseman and another who has about as much chance of cracking the Leafs top 6 defenseman as Kerry Fraser does seeing a high stick infraction by a superstar player.
There is much to be learned still from the prophet Ron Wilson on the proper use of the 1-2-2 trap and how not to take a stupid penalty. Yet there was more of the same hustle, defensive minded play, and quick sharp passes.
In particular, the grittiness and tenacity that Hagman, Kulemin and Grabovski showed tonight was special. One glaring give away notwithstanding, Mikhail Grabovski played a great game. On more than several occasion did his hard fore check and relentless puck carrier pressure create turnovers and chances.
Kulemin wasn't as his greatest, but he put on a great display of what he's capable of on a 4 on 4 in the 3rd period. Hagman hustled, created a few turnovers and was a genuine defensive player for much of the night.
Jason Blake has looked like a completely different player than last season. Hustle, hard work, and his in your face style of play looks totally rejuventated.
I can't get too carried away here since there was still far too many penalties taken. That absolutely has to be corrected or this is going to be an awfully difficult year to watch.
Tonight displayed more of the same. But it wasn't the typical more of the same. It was a repeat of Monday's changed hockey team. Finally, it appears that the Leafs are headed in the proper direction.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The parade is as good as done
It was a fun night of hockey to watch. Of course I'm being facetious about the parade route. However, there are alot of positives that can be extracted from last nights affair.
As an overall look to the team, you see quite clearly that they will be playing a vastly different style of play. Last season there was many nights where they appeared to be ants scurrying all over the ice in the defensive zone.
The traditional Man to Man hockey defense can appear that way. It can look quite chaotic when players switch off during the cycle, or just stick to the man and chase him around.
Last night, there was the beginnings of strategic, sound defensive zone play. There was still lapses; I'm looking at you Ian White, twice.
Yet, there were many times where their play was thoughtful and with purpose. There was still some scurrying, that will go away with time.
Speed is another area that seemed much improved. I'm not sure if it was the half AHL squad on the other side, however, the Leafs seemed very fast out there. Dom Moore looked liked Crosby when he head faked the pass and just exploded past the defense who bought the fake hard.
There was alot of crisp, quick, tape to tape passes. The transition in the defensive zone to the breakout was very nice to see. A buddy I was watching the game with commented on several occasions that the plethora of blue shirts in front of the net was another dominant theme all night.
It was a fairly sound effort for a first exhibition. Yes, I realize it means nothing in the grand scheme of things. That's quite fine.
It was, however, a true realization that there is real, meaningful change at the corner of Bay and Lake Shore. Last night's team was a drastically different one than we saw play last year. And I'm not referring to personnel.
It may be a tough season ahead, but if they play games all year that resemble what we saw last night, it will be fun to watch.
As an overall look to the team, you see quite clearly that they will be playing a vastly different style of play. Last season there was many nights where they appeared to be ants scurrying all over the ice in the defensive zone.
The traditional Man to Man hockey defense can appear that way. It can look quite chaotic when players switch off during the cycle, or just stick to the man and chase him around.
Last night, there was the beginnings of strategic, sound defensive zone play. There was still lapses; I'm looking at you Ian White, twice.
Yet, there were many times where their play was thoughtful and with purpose. There was still some scurrying, that will go away with time.
Speed is another area that seemed much improved. I'm not sure if it was the half AHL squad on the other side, however, the Leafs seemed very fast out there. Dom Moore looked liked Crosby when he head faked the pass and just exploded past the defense who bought the fake hard.
There was alot of crisp, quick, tape to tape passes. The transition in the defensive zone to the breakout was very nice to see. A buddy I was watching the game with commented on several occasions that the plethora of blue shirts in front of the net was another dominant theme all night.
It was a fairly sound effort for a first exhibition. Yes, I realize it means nothing in the grand scheme of things. That's quite fine.
It was, however, a true realization that there is real, meaningful change at the corner of Bay and Lake Shore. Last night's team was a drastically different one than we saw play last year. And I'm not referring to personnel.
It may be a tough season ahead, but if they play games all year that resemble what we saw last night, it will be fun to watch.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Starting slow...
So yesterday was physicals. The silly event where all the players get poked and prodded to determine if they are in shape for the coming season.
Here's a novel idea: Put your team through hockey suicides the first day for an hour. That'll show you real quick who pulled a Keith Tkachuk or Kyle Wellwood during the summer.
The Star has a nice photo of Jamal Mayers getting his teeth checked. I suppose if Mike Tyson started to play hockey, you'd like to ensure that one of his abilities is in top notch form. Other than that, what's the purpose?
Looking ahead there is an exhibition game in a couple of days against our friends down the QEW in Buffalo. I still hate them for stopping our run to the finals in 99.
I like and hate exhibition games. The start of exhibition games piques my hockey interest again. The monotony of August hockey news begins to take its toll (Has Sundin signed anywhere? It's hard to find any articles on it) . Finally, after all those weeks of anticipation, I get to see my team take to the ice.
All those changes that have been scrutinized, analyzed and of course, eventually predicting failure, becomes reality. The actual on ice product is back.
Exhibition games also spell the beginning of my downfall. My excitement becomes so intense that I begin to slip and start to look forward to the season. My predications of success and all the rational reasoning float the surface. My circle of friends begin to laugh and tell me I'm nuts. Ultimately by February 1st, I end up in fetal position sucking my thumb asking for it to end.
This season will be different! Change is good! Change is better! This collection of 3rd and 4th liners is going to make moves!
There I go again.
Reeling it back in; Monday night can't come soon enough. I'll be there on the couch eyes glued to Leafs TV looking at what's to come for this season and the next few as those AHL hopefuls show their stuff.
At the very least, my optimism will be satiated when I see Luke Schenn perform in the Blue and White for the first time.
Here's a novel idea: Put your team through hockey suicides the first day for an hour. That'll show you real quick who pulled a Keith Tkachuk or Kyle Wellwood during the summer.
The Star has a nice photo of Jamal Mayers getting his teeth checked. I suppose if Mike Tyson started to play hockey, you'd like to ensure that one of his abilities is in top notch form. Other than that, what's the purpose?
Looking ahead there is an exhibition game in a couple of days against our friends down the QEW in Buffalo. I still hate them for stopping our run to the finals in 99.
I like and hate exhibition games. The start of exhibition games piques my hockey interest again. The monotony of August hockey news begins to take its toll (Has Sundin signed anywhere? It's hard to find any articles on it) . Finally, after all those weeks of anticipation, I get to see my team take to the ice.
All those changes that have been scrutinized, analyzed and of course, eventually predicting failure, becomes reality. The actual on ice product is back.
Exhibition games also spell the beginning of my downfall. My excitement becomes so intense that I begin to slip and start to look forward to the season. My predications of success and all the rational reasoning float the surface. My circle of friends begin to laugh and tell me I'm nuts. Ultimately by February 1st, I end up in fetal position sucking my thumb asking for it to end.
This season will be different! Change is good! Change is better! This collection of 3rd and 4th liners is going to make moves!
There I go again.
Reeling it back in; Monday night can't come soon enough. I'll be there on the couch eyes glued to Leafs TV looking at what's to come for this season and the next few as those AHL hopefuls show their stuff.
At the very least, my optimism will be satiated when I see Luke Schenn perform in the Blue and White for the first time.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Repressed Optimism
Jonas Hoglund, Igor Korolev, Jyrki Lumme, Aki Berg. What do these names have in common? Promises made and never achieved. Just the beginning in a long list. Players who, for reasons we never understood, continued night in and night out to step on the ice and shock the crowd with... well, nothing.
Cory Cross, Garry Valk, Dmitri Khristich, Alex Khavanov... If you listen closely, you can hear the collective tears of Leafs fans everywhere as they re-live the years when these players we're prominent forces for the home team. Ok, enough of that. It's enough to send some of us to therapy.
It's been hard to be a fan these past few years. But there has been a few redeeming qualities. A first round Senator exit provided us with some solace that we aren't alone. Sens fans, how does it feel to know that your window of opportunity is beginning to slip away? It's sucks. It leads to what I have right now; Repressed Optimism.
You see, I have a disease. It's one that prevents me from speaking ill will about my Leafs. When JFJ signed on, I looked at the positives. A young up and comer, looking to make his mark. This is good for us.
When he signed Jason Allison and Eric Lindros, extended McCabe, Belfour and Tucker, I applauded the moves. How could I do otherwise? I certainly can't agree with Cox, Simmons, or Berger.
Of course as time went on, it became painfully clear, to even myself, the eternal Leaf optimist, that JFJ was a colossal failure. Finally, he is fired and replaced by a ventriloquist puppet... I mean Cliff Fletcher. In all honestly, I was quite happy. Perhaps there will be a turn around.
As the summer worn on it became clear that the Fox was enacting his master plan and it would be a vastly different team.
This is the Repressed Optimism. I don't want my team to lose. There are a lot of unknowns. This team could surprise. Look at the Tampa Rays; A team with youngsters who all had breakout years. Ok, they don't have can't miss talent like Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria or BJ Upton.
We've been groomed by the pessimist media to expect the worst when it comes to the Leafs. As Down Goes Brown points out, Damien Cox thinks the Leafs are always wrong; Even when they do what he says they should. Howard Berger repeats the year 1967 so many times that I'm concerned that he may not know that other 4 digit numbers actually exist. In fact, has Berger ever had something good to say about the Leafs? I didn't pay attention to him much back in the early 2000' s when the Leafs we're actually good. But based on what I've read of his recently, you'd think the Leafs haven't had a single successful season since the Wright brothers mastered the art of flight.
So as we enter this season, my optimism stays repressed. It's much easier to accept winning when you expect less, than it is to accept failure when you expect more.
Cory Cross, Garry Valk, Dmitri Khristich, Alex Khavanov... If you listen closely, you can hear the collective tears of Leafs fans everywhere as they re-live the years when these players we're prominent forces for the home team. Ok, enough of that. It's enough to send some of us to therapy.
It's been hard to be a fan these past few years. But there has been a few redeeming qualities. A first round Senator exit provided us with some solace that we aren't alone. Sens fans, how does it feel to know that your window of opportunity is beginning to slip away? It's sucks. It leads to what I have right now; Repressed Optimism.
You see, I have a disease. It's one that prevents me from speaking ill will about my Leafs. When JFJ signed on, I looked at the positives. A young up and comer, looking to make his mark. This is good for us.
When he signed Jason Allison and Eric Lindros, extended McCabe, Belfour and Tucker, I applauded the moves. How could I do otherwise? I certainly can't agree with Cox, Simmons, or Berger.
Of course as time went on, it became painfully clear, to even myself, the eternal Leaf optimist, that JFJ was a colossal failure. Finally, he is fired and replaced by a ventriloquist puppet... I mean Cliff Fletcher. In all honestly, I was quite happy. Perhaps there will be a turn around.
As the summer worn on it became clear that the Fox was enacting his master plan and it would be a vastly different team.
This is the Repressed Optimism. I don't want my team to lose. There are a lot of unknowns. This team could surprise. Look at the Tampa Rays; A team with youngsters who all had breakout years. Ok, they don't have can't miss talent like Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria or BJ Upton.
We've been groomed by the pessimist media to expect the worst when it comes to the Leafs. As Down Goes Brown points out, Damien Cox thinks the Leafs are always wrong; Even when they do what he says they should. Howard Berger repeats the year 1967 so many times that I'm concerned that he may not know that other 4 digit numbers actually exist. In fact, has Berger ever had something good to say about the Leafs? I didn't pay attention to him much back in the early 2000' s when the Leafs we're actually good. But based on what I've read of his recently, you'd think the Leafs haven't had a single successful season since the Wright brothers mastered the art of flight.
So as we enter this season, my optimism stays repressed. It's much easier to accept winning when you expect less, than it is to accept failure when you expect more.
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