sensman99

I was watching the last Bruin-Leafs game, rooting for the Bruins but feeling REALLY bad for the Leafs. Kidd was letting everything get by him. Leafs are a strong team this year and they have weathered injuries to key players, but they really are SUNK without Eddie in goal right now. Kidd looked lost out there. If they’re going with Tellqvist as backup. . . late in the season for him to start earning his wings. They need to trade for a backup or hope for a miracle in the playoffs.

1) Detroit – The ONLY real problem I see is that I don’t think Cujo is as good as people think. He’s still plenty good enough, though. I (unfortunately) pick Detroit to win it all.

2) Colorado – Super talented, but lacking d-depth and no experienced tender. Thing is, the Avs ALWAYS shore up their weaknesses at the deadline.

3) Philly – All depends on Burke, I think. Other than that, Philly is solid and tough, provided one of JR or Primeau comes back soon.

4) Ottawa – The same questions as every year – Lalime and toughness. If those two things don’t get in the way, their coming out of the East.

5) Vancouver – I think this team is better than people think, but the Sedins may disappear again in the playoffs, and Clouts still hasn’t proven much.

6) Boston – Don’t seem to have the killer instinct, which is why I don’t see them going past the second round, really. Great on paper, though, and a team I wouldn’t want to play.

7) New Jersey – Not as deep, talented, or annoying to play against as in previous years. Need at least two pieces (Faceoff guy and d-man), or they could exit early.

8) TB – If they keep rolling, they could even win the East, imo. If they don’t, they don’t have the experience or the desire yet, I don’t think.

9) SJ – I put them here because I think they have an outside chance, and that teams will still underestimate them, but they don’t have the mentality of a cup team, it’d seem.

So, as you see, I do see holes in other teams. I just think that the first 4 teams have a better shot than the Leafs, the next 4 have just as good a shot. SJ is a longshot, but I thought they deserved to be there, anyway.

That all being said, I can say I could wish they’d stand pat and be patient unless there’s a good deal, but I’d be lying if part of me didn’t WANT to see them go for it. Hopefully JFJ can find a way to pull a couple rabbits out of his hat (i.e. Jason Smith, Sean Hill, CHRIS PRONGER…) I agree the team is talented, but I’d like to see a responsible offensive d-man and a workhorse blue collar guy. Bye, Aki Berg, and suddenly you have Pilar/Marchment rotation for the final spot, depending what you need more that night.

I still think a backup is pointless – we’ll go nowhere if it’s not Eddie back there. That’s one of the places where TO has a distinct advantage over most of the teams on the list.

So, I’m in JFJ’s corner, as I’m sure you are, and hope he does the SMART thing – whatever that turns up to be.

So before everyone jumps down the throats of those that post Leaf rumors you might want to do a couple of things;

1. Write the original rumour sources, such as TSN. I am sure that those people that actually get paid to talk hockey like Mackenzie and Mcguire would love to hear from the NHL authories that reside here on HTR.

2. Look up at your URL for this site, you might notice that it says, “hockeytraderumors” Holy shit, what can that mean, I wonder if that means if it is a place for people to come and post hockey rumors and talk hockey??????? Hmmmmm, maybe not though, most often it looks like a place for jackasses to come and post crap and attack others points of view.

By all means attack the ones that suggest that the Leafs will trade Berg and Antropov for Pronger, as a Leaf fan I am embarrassed by some of those posts but at least have the decency to be fair to those that are only trying to bring you the news that is out there.

For those that agree with what I have just said, I am sure that I will not hear from you. For the jackasses that well, really are just jackasses who probably know nothing about the game of hockey, I am sure that you will have lots to say. Bring it on!!!!!!!

dumbass……….