It’s Alive!

An open letter to Jonas  ”The Monster” Gustavsson:

Damn you Jonas Gustavsson, do you have any idea what you have done? Any clue at all?

I’ll just say it, a little over 2 months ago some careless and borderline egotistical writer wrote you off as a goalie a few saves short of being “NHL Quality.” Now here you go posting outlandish numbers, multiple shutouts and wins.

Now this poor guy has to slink back to his post and subtly edit a “yet” into the first paragraph just to avoid looking foolish. So thank you very much for playing oh so well these last few months and keeping this team in the playoff hunt at the expense of this excellent writer.

The worst part is that you haven’t quite sold anyone on the idea that you are a solid #1 option. Sure, you are the best right now, but you still are prone to the weak goal and that is a major concern. So do everyone a favour: be either really good or really bad and let those lowly writers make snap judgments that remain correct forever.

On a related note:

While I am sure it was reading said post that gave you the motivation for rising to the occasion, you have yet to attribute anything to this brilliant up and comer. A simple mention: “So and So from the 5thlinecentre really motivated me. I owe my current success and substantial amount of my paycheques to this man.” Or if that is too forward for you feel free to deposit the money directly into his account, I am sure he would give you the information required.

Such a small gesture on your part would likely go a long way toward improving your playoff chances, just a thought.

‘Twas the Season

With Ron Wilson getting his much thought about/debated/speculated contract extension for Christmas I decided to spend a few weeks window shopping outside player homes to see just what they all received during the holiday season.

Colby Armstrong - In light of his ever increasing brittle nature he was given his own cow to ensure he drinks as much milk as he can. As I peeked into the basement window I spotted what I assume to be a backup gift, a giant, half wrapped metal machine with Iron Lung written on the side.

Sydney Crosby - The complete “Life and Times of Paul Kariya”, with special features including a Scott Stevens “replica.”

Alexander Ovechkin - At the very back of the tree there was a small gift, wrapped in Anaheim Ducks ticket stubs and a card that read “I get the last Getzlaf.” Inside was a joke book containing 100’s of different Ovechkin All-Star Game related jokes pulled from just about every blog and editorial around the hockey world.

Mike Ziggomanis - Finally received the actual self-portraits he took so he could finally prove once and for all those old pictures were doctored.

Mike Fisher - Adorning the walls in just about every room of the house were truly stunning, heartfelt Christmas cards addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Underwood.

Brendan Shanahan - A mint condition Colin Campbell “Do it yourself Supplementary Discipline Kit” which includes the fabled magic eight ball, roulette wheel and suspension abacus with only 3 sliding beads. Hate mail sold separately.

Dion Phaneuf – Elisha Cuthbert.

Erik Karlsson – A list of suggested reading from head Coach Paul Maclean, the following topping the list:

The latter of course being on back order thanks to the entire Pittsburgh Penguins roster preparing for the playoffs.

Unfortunately those are all the windows I was able to get close enough too without setting off the alarms, check in next week for a breakdown of the average police response time compared to overall league star power. *spoiler* Colton Orr does his own responding.

Finger on the Button

I have looked everywhere. Under my desk, in between the couch cushions, not-securely wrapped presents under the tree… I just can’t seem to find that damn panic button.

So do you all remember that time earlier this year when the Leafs were leading the Eastern Conference? Remember how during that time all talk came around to one important point? Anyone happen to recall what that was? Something about going streaking? Watching the tubes?

Oh yes, how could I forget: AVOID A STREAK THAT WILL SEND YOUR SEASONS DOWN THE TUBE!

Each season since Ron Wilson took over every discussion about what exactly extended to playoff drought has come down to one horrific stretch of hockey. Be it 1 win in 15 games or 2 wins in 9, it ended there.

Well, I can’t help but feel this team is once again on the verge of falling into that early season grave. In this 2-5-2 run Leaf fans have been witness to the most pathetic penalty killing the league has known for years.  Not only that, 7 times in that stretch these boys have allowed 3 or more goals and have been outscored 32-22, a difference just over 1 goal per game. Worst of all, in this span Toronto has fallen from a fight for first in the northeast to teetering on the verge of a losing a playoff spot.

This can all turn around if three players finally show up on a nightly basis: Grabovski, Kulemin and C-Mac. I don’t exactly know what the problem is with these guys, but the fight we saw last season is nonexistent. In 2010-2011 this line was a scoring threat in nearly every game and night in night out the best line on the team. Now they are nothing more than time fillers until Lupul and Kessel are rested. These 3 used to fight for every inch; if they lost the puck they did everything they could to get it back. This year they simply glance over their shoulders, and do a large, slow loop back towards the play. On top of that when they do manage to generate some pressure Grabovski seems afraid to shoot the puck.

I don’t know how much longer they will run cold, but without this line the Leafs are not playoff contenders. Not unless they manage to fix that humiliating penalty kill and, given the track record, the smart money is on the offence coming around.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have a button to find. We may need it.

Same Old Story

Rage is building. Profanities flying. Channels being changed in the most dramatic fashions. Not a good start to a weekend.

This was one of those games that makes slamming your head against the wall seem like reasonable, or even a slight under reaction to the events. The Leafs played a good game and it is hard to be in a game where you have 10 consecutive minutes playing a man short. But to their credit they pressed and fought back.

But there were two big misses that, in the end, cost the Leafs. First was midway through the second when the Leafs Clarke Macarthur drove down the right side, only to have a Sabre wrap his arms around him. The referee, looking right at this, did nothing. The play then went back to the Leafs end where C-Mac took a tripping penalty that started the half period of shorthanded play.

The Leafs deserved all calls that followed, and I’m sorry to say, Phaneuf deserved the 5 and a game he got for his dangerous hit. The only way to eliminate hitting from behind is to hand out those large penalties.

In the end the Leafs looked on the verge to overcome their pathetic attempt at killing penalties if not for a blatant non-call when Phil Kessel was crosschecked at the blue line. The puck squirted to a Buffalo player, who made a perfect breakaway pass and lead goal that will surely haunt Reimer tonight. After the smoke settled the Leafs lost a game they should have won, blame the refs, blames the PK, either way these are 2 points that may be very important by seasons end.

Leafless Team Canada

So the Team Canada Roster for the World Juniors is out. Not a lot of Leafs on it this year, not a good sign for a team trying to gather young talent.

Last year it seemed almost a given that one of two Toronto draft picks from 2010, Brad Ross (2^nd round, 43^rd overall) and Greg McKegg (3^rd round, 62^nd overall) would be making an appearance in Alberta this Boxing Day. Instead both will be sitting at home like the rest of the nation, maybe with a little extra eggnog to numb the disappointment.

There are strong worries that this year’s entry into the tournament will lack scoring, this is a void both players should have been able to fill. This roll on a scoring line would have been best suited to McKegg, the Erie Otter had steadily improved his scoring output over the last two seasons. After a low production rookie season McKegg exploded with 37 goals, 85pts in 67 games and 49 goals, 92 points in 66 games while being a combined +38. This year is a different story, playing on an woefully bad Otters team that has amassed just 4 wins in 32 games this season McKegg is has a lowly 10 goals and an abysmal -33 this season.

Even with McKegg seemingly taking a step back this season there was still hope with Ross managing to stick around until the final cuts. Ross, from the WHL Portland Winterhawks, has, like McKegg, steadily improved his production since being drafted but is playing for a playoff bound team.  But again, much like McKegg, his plus minus that combined for + 51 over the past 2 seasons is a -7 this year. In the end Ross was deemed unworthy of joining the best of the Canadian juniors and was sent home.

It seems that both prospects are struggling to build on their achievements from last season. This could stem from, as veterans of their teams, playing against the top players in the leagues more often and are being exploited for some defensive shortcomings. Some concern over this is warranted, after all the Leafs are poster boys for how weak defensive play can sink a team since the lockout, bad goalies notwithstanding.

Luckily both these kids are several years away from getting a serious shot in the big leagues. Hopefully by then they will have rounded out a little more and can recapture the magic that got them both drafted in the top 100 not that long ago.