smitty55

That's cool, but actually Chris I don't think it was the run so much that led to all the turmoil, most of it came from Melnyk cheaping out everywhere including staff along with the drama in the room mostly caused by a spoiled star who sucked up all the oxygen in the room. Plus there was Boucher, I was not a fan of his at all and neither were many of the players if you remember that cab ride. Like I mentioned the best thing they did was trade off Karlsson. We got 3 quite decent players, a first and second round pick, two conditional picks and the rights to Josh Norris who was a 2017 first round pick by the Sharks and was a strong player for the US development team. He was getting over surgery from an injury and is in his first year as a pro in Belleville where he's second in team scoring and just under a point a game player. So in that case I'd say we did quite well in that trade, Karlsson hasn't been the same player since that run and his injuries, only 3 goals this year and they are stuck with a huge 11 year contract for a player who is starting on the downturn of his career. #sharktank is trending strong in Ottawa As for Stone and Duschene, once they realized that a rebuild was on the way and with Boucher still there and along with the drama in the room there was no chance that they were going to give up their chance at free agency and I don't blame them one bit. The Stone trade hurt for sure and we still don't have a true first line center yet although they're hoping Logan Brown progresses to that eventually. Cheers

Chris I was merely pointing out that at least we've recently had a great playoff run to be excited about as a fan base, you need to follow the context of the paragraph bud. You should chill man and not take everything so adversarially. I'm not Matt. I'm starting to see where you're just kind of like/about as bad as the guys you're calling out lol. I figure it's developed on this thread over the years but regardless it doesn't really add much to the actual hockey conversation from either side. But I guess it's ok for you to react to a simple statement and bash the Sens with words like train wreck, embarrassment to Canada, appalled ?, and then spouting off about about trades you don't seem to have have much knowledge on. You can look up the Karlsson and Stone 😦 trades to see what we got back in trades and prospects if you want to actually bother. Just the Dzingle trade of a rental 1.8M ufa contract got us two second round picks from Columbus and then Torts the almighty was happy enough to throw in Duclair as a sweetener. If you haven't heard that interview about him from Torts you should find it. Well he did well enough for 21 games that he was resigned for one year at 1.65M. Well guess what he has 15 goals in 32 games, that would put him second in scoring on your team Chris, just saying. I bet he's faster than anyone on the Leafs too. He's got a real good shot , not quite Mathews like but he can score from distance. Best of all this coaching team has made the most of his always known skill set and is transforming him into a real good and dangerous penalty killer too, to finally solidify his "identity" as a hockey player. Watch his shorty, it's a beauty. He is thriving on the prime ice time he's getting in all situations, his confidence is high, and he's the happiest and most productive in Ottawa he's ever been as an nhl player. He's close to home in Montreal and I can see him resigning here for quite reasonable numbers. Pretty good for what you call nothing in return Chris. Then again like you said you never watch or follow the team so there you go... There is some basis to some points you made but it wasn't as bad as you portray it. There were two years of utter turmoil with ownership, dumping salary along with the problems in the dressing room. Even though they did did offer Ek65 big numbers they knew he wouldn't stay. IMO Best thing they did was trading him., that contract was an anchor as San Jose will find out. Cheers

Tks Akri, I figure a hockey thread should be more about constructive debate and discussion as opposed to senseless bashing that accomplishes nothing. I will say that it does seem to come from both sides here but I don't really know how it all came about. Nothing wrong with some friendly barbs the odd time, it just depends on how one goes about it. I did say something about a parade but that is almost a universal comment where it concerns the Leafs. So I just watched all the highlights from the game last night plus some of the TSN panel discussions. That's two games in a row now where the Leafs had lousy 3rd periods, Andersen just bailed them out against the Canucks but he sure didn't look too sharp last night, to me he's already looking tired after 6 straight starts. Even on a 95 second 2 man advantage for the Leafs they couldn't score and Sheldon didn't have much positive to say about most of the team. It doesn't matter what team it is, if they don't play for a full three periods they will lose more games than win. No points for Auston but at least Marner and Tavares have been clicking lately. You had mentioned about the leafs trending in the right direction since the coaching change, but they are now 6-4, somewhat but not really all that much better than under Babs. If this keeps up much longer I can see Leafs nation really getting up in arms and it won't be pretty. Meanwhile the Flames are now 7-0 under their new coach so it's working well there. Cheers

You really are dreaming. With the stock they have in the farm system and the number of their own picks they have and also the Shark's first round pick this year they will be doing quite well by then. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they're doing better than the leafs by then too. With 40% of the cap space taken up by four players and already in big time cap trouble I can't see any improvements happening in the near future. Meanwhile the Sens have tons of flexibility with all the ufa and rfa players they can let go of to make room for the high end prospects they have in their system like Drake Batherson for example, currently leading the AHL in points. Plus there are some highly touted d-men coming up the system like Brannstrom, Wolanin, and a very highly touted right shooting Finn Lassi Thomson who they selected in the first round last year. They are very excited about him, he's playing in the Finnish league this year and is expected to make a strong push to make the team next year. Excellent skater with great hockey sense, a strong offensive flair and a very accurate cannon of a shot from the blueline. As for the franchise being in trouble that's a joke. Melnyk has said he will spend to the cap once the rebuild has taken place. Besides that, billionaire Guy Laliberte would buy the team in a flash if he did decide to sell. I wish he would, I'm not a fan of his at all. Standings you say. The Sens are playing above expectations this year and the Leafs far below. Speaking of playoffs the Leafs aren't even in the playoffs right now, they're fourth in the wild card race lol. They've even allowed more goals against than the Sens this year. You have no decent back up goalie so Andersen will more than likely get burnt out from playing too much or get injured as well and then you're screwed. Your no.1 star player is a classless spoiled immature kid who still who gets his jollies from harassing and mooning a female security guard. He then got in trouble with the law over it and didn't even have the integrity to inform the team. He'll make a great captain I'm sure lol, unless he doesn't get it in which case he'll be a big sulk. I'll leave with this. Sens fans this year finally have something to be real excited about, unlike the last two years. Now we can actually start to see the plan coming together in front of us and I can assure you there are no unhappy Sens fans this season, except maybe tank nation. Meanwhile I've seen a pile of posts from unhappy leafs fans bashing their team this season, and I don't mean just here. I'd say Sens fans are having much more fun this year for sure. Also if you care to recall, only 3 seasons ago we came a game 7 overtime goal away from making the finals. Meanwhile the leafs were out in the first round as usual while the Sens took out Boston, something the leafs sure can't do. But go ahead, keep on dreaming and planning that parade, I just don't see it happening any time soon, not the way they are constructed right now. Cheers

I figure you're just getting on Matt's case but you do realize that the Leafs have only two more wins than the Sens so most of your points are moot.

D J Smith came in at the same time as Babs a year after being named OHL coach of the year, so he knows the Leafs players as well as anybody. I'm really enjoying his coaching style and old style attitude, it's pretty black and white, he knows it's all about developing talent. From what Chris has said I guess they're just playing better under DJ than Babs. This is from the coach today On Ron Hainsey playing in his 1,100th NHL game tomorrow night: "The best part about Ron is that his game has changed from an offensive guy to a defensive guy. He's found a way to stay in the league by doing it right and by not riding the ups and downs. He's an even keel guy win or lose, he's good to have around young guys, he treats everyone with respect and he's a guy in the locker room that kind of looks after everything." Sounds like the perfect guy to help on a rebuilding team. Don't forget the Leafs were last in the league in 15/16, so not that far away from what the Sens are doing now as an organization in a rebuild. Cheers

Yea Ennis started off slow this season but has been playing quite well the last dozen games or so. He also leads the team in pp goals, not that we have a lot of them being second last in the league. For the way he's playing now he's a great deal on a ufa 800k contract. As for watching the Sens Chris you should try watching the last two Boston games. At least you'd get to watch some hard working structured and physical play, something that's been surely lacking in some of the leafs games I've watched. The Philly game was a great watch too even though they lost in the last 5 minutes, couple of fights and tons of hitting.

Chris I don't know about the haters, but I will certainly dispute you on those three players. You only know those players as members of the leafs org under Babs. I have no prior familiar opinion on them at all. They have all been far from garbage for the rebuilding Sens this year. They have fit into their intended roles really well from what I see, Hainsey is a perfect example. He was brought in for his experience to bring some solid stability to a young defense and equally to provide mentorship to some hopeful defensemen coming up the pipe, just like how the Leafs used him with with Morgan Rielly. He has been rock solid on the ice, very vocal and he has no problem switching sides to accommodate who he's playing with. He's been good value for his salary and as a ufa I wouldn't be surprised if the Sens offer him another year. As for Zaitsev, considering his salary was basically a trade off with Ceci I have no problem with the way he's been playing, for the most part paired with Chabot. From what I've seen he's better than Ceci for sure, far less prone to mistakes and more physical in his play. In last night's game he was paired with Boro playing against the Bergeron line and they did a great job overall. He had 7 blocks, Boro had 6, no one else on either team had more than 2. Now he does have term left for sure but so far so good. As for Connor Brown, he's been one of the most consistent and hard working forwards we have this season. His defensive play has been excellent, he's 4th in team points and trending to 40. His hard work has garnered him several game stars. Considering he was added in as a sweetener to compensate for Zaitsev's term his play and contract of 2M has been a great deal for the team and as an rfa I can easily see the team offering him an extension next summer, specially if Pageau's agent prices himself out of what Ottawa is willing to pay for a real good 3rd line center. Cheers

So I have something to put out to the Leafs fans here. There's no question that while Andersen is a decent goalie, the team is one injury to him away from having no nhl quality goalie to back him up. Considering the shaky standings now for the Leafs if that were to happen I doubt they would make the playoffs. The Sens have no playoff aspirations of course, and a big pile of ufa player contracts, including Craig Anderson that they can play with come the deadline. Sure his play has slipped somewhat over the last two seasons as he's gotten older, but he hasn't had a good team in front of him either for the most part. Saying that, with the team playing a much better structured and defensive style of play this season in his last 5 games his average is .932, best run I've seen him play since last year. Ottawa has Nilsson and now Hogberg on one ways for next year so it makes sense for Ottawa to get the best return they can for him. It wouldn't surprise me that Dorion has already got a call or two about Andy even though it's kind of early in the season yet. There are a few teams in the league with shaky backup goal tending this season. Whenever the subject does come up the Leafs are one of the top teams that could have interest in him, and it makes total sense from a hockey standpoint with any team that has strong playoff expectation. He is no doubt the best UFA goaltender available for rent this season and I don't recall him mentioning retiring yet so I could still see him maybe doing a trade and sign a short extension even. He has a 10 team no trade. So even though his cap hit is 4.75M, interested teams with cap space could afford to trade for him earlier and beat out other contenders without that flexibility like the Leafs. So here's my question? He would be a solid back up for sure for many teams. Would it be worthwhile for the Leafs to jump the gun and trade off a contract to make some room somehow and maybe a pick too.? I'm just speculating but it makes sense from a management standpoint. Cheers

I realize that. I was just pointing out that Ottawa was still able to shut down both of them on different lines and still score. McDavid was -2, Draisaitl was -2 and two D-men were -4. They did a real good job after the shaky start where Andy kept them in the game.

Actually McDavid and Draisaitl were on different lines last night. Also they are 1st in the Pacific division so I guess that strategy isn't working too well for most teams.

Also the Sens have a deserved rep around the league of being a hard working team that doesn't give up or quit like the leafs did against Philly, and that's from their no.1 player. In sports the worst four letter word that can be used for a team or player is quit. So much for the honeymoon with the new coach after all the hype. I still figure they'll make the playoffs but I can't see them going far like usual.

You do realize that the Sens have only one less win than the Leafs with a game in hand. Just sayin...

He sure did but still ended up with zero points and only one assist for 29. Those two quick goals knocked the Oilers off their game and Ottawa stifled their offense for the next two periods and kept the best PP in the league to 1 of 7. A well needed and real feel good win for the Sens.

Chris I wasn't inferring that you were forced by anyone, but you you did feel bad enough the next day after reading your post that you felt you had to apologize and that's fine, you realized and admitted that you may have been over zealous and I respected you for it. Just a guess but I'm thinking perhaps there may have been some alcohol involved hehe. As for the rest I can see how that could get annoying for sure, specially if that's all it is and it's mostly coming from from the same direction. I can't really say as I have little history in this thread until lately so I don't know how many Sens fans have commented on this thread over the seasons. Anyways, for me the Sens Leafs rivalry was the best thing that ever happened for hockey in Ottawa as a fan, even more so than the Habs who we actually beat in our first ever game. Tickets are still always the most expensive of the year, even more than the Habs still, but most fun in the stands is usually for both visiting teams. They are both always special games. Cheers

How was I supposed to know it would rile up leafs fans? All I did was post some facts is all and if that's all it takes to get them riled up well then I guess you just helped make my point.

Like I said Chris I haven't been on this thread much, and I don't expect to. I'm certainly not going to bother looking for posts to provide references for you, I'm sure other folks here could back up my point. As for getting pissed off over a hockey thread, that's a joke. Mind you it wasn't very long back when you blew a fuse getting on someones case to the point you had to apologize the next morning, so I guess you could be the pot and the kettle. Cheers

No doubt about that as far as numbers of leafs fans go here. I'm all for good natured bantering between fans too but from the little amount of times I've spent here it seems to go far past that so I'm not surprised Sens fans don't comment here too much as they just get ganged up on. I grew up a Leafs fan for 37 years and a Hab hater until my home town of Ottawa got an NHL team. Still a Hab hater lol. The one thing I do find amusing is the way many leafs fans still think the leafs are the center of the hockey universe. Considering they haven't made the finals in 52 years, reached the conference finals only once in the last 26 years and in the last 14 years missed the playoffs 10 times and exited in the first round the other 4 years I don't see much to brag about or much reason to pile on other fans, but whatever. Cheers

I don't come to this thread very often but from what I see for the most part this isn't a hockey thread it's a Leafs thread. Cheers

Exactly. In his hockey history as a gm as he moved up the ranks he has now hired 3 head coaches, all Sheldon Keefe. It's already worked twice for him so it makes sense. No doubt it better shake them up good, but it's still the same players and the same cap constraints that Dubas has caused. Cheers

Here's another stat. The Sens have won their last six games after losing one. That's a sign of a good team. Meanwhile TO has lost 6 in a row. Pretty sure the Sens record is top ten in the league this month. Anders Nilsson has been stellar in net and DJ Smith has them playing hard and focused. Pageau is the top goal scorer in November, 9 in 9 games, tied with McDavid.

My understanding is that the show is pretaped so they have it ready to play whenever the differing games are finished the first period. There is no doubt sportsnet watched the show before it aired and approved it to be played, which leaves me to believe that it was a Rogers decision to can Cherry after they caved in to the online pressure. Cheers

Incredible work, the precision, quality and visual appeal are astounding. You sir are a master of your art.

Actually it's 3 losses in a row for the leafs. Things aren't looking all that well in the center of the universe. But it's not just TO. Boston is L4, Buffalo L6, Preds L3, Golden Knights and Ducks at L4. Doesn't surprise me over all, there's usually a settling in period over the first quarter of the season. some surprising teams though. Keeps things lively, that's what I like. It gets even more interesting. I just looked at the standings and if the Sens were to win those two games in hand to reach 20 they would have as many wins at 9 that the Leafs have now. I listen to lots of the Ottawa sports radio station and fans are getting concerned about the team finishing far too high in the standings, 27th now. I went on tsn and watched a couple segments of overdrive just to see what going on there and boy most players, Dubas and Babs are taking it good from all four of the guys. Things like "how come players come here and don't play as well as they did before, not just Barrie. Hey Babs many it's your systems that aren't working well, not that the guys need to work harder and better. Craig Button goes back 65 games where the same defensive problems have been there for the Leafs. Dubas has no previous experience as a GM, and he's never negotiated contracts before so he has no knowledge to base decisions on" Anyway, it was all like that. Check it out folks. Cheers