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In the final analysis, Carlyle just couldn't make the toast in Toronto.

I think Bab's is pulling the sports psychology long-con. No matter what Weiss does, it's not good enough. Oh you scored 2 goals? Call me when you score 3, 4, 5 etc. Then one day, just when Weiss can't grit his teeth and fight for it at 110% on the 4th line any longer, Zetterberg and Datsyuk both go down with injuries. It's time. First shift on the 1st line Weiss goes coast to coast, performs a triple sow cow, and then rockets the mother of all slappers into the goalies logo pushing the goalie and the puck into the back of the net. Babs lights a cigar behind the bench. At least that's how the colorful story book in my head plays out.

That's the saddest thing about the Weiss situation IMO. This time two months ago we were all clamoring on about how "done" he was. He faced some adversity with his health, and did/said all the right things to get himself back on the roster. AND THEN he produced. So, within this context, I would loooooove to know what he's doing wrong, or more specifically, what someone like Franzen is doing better.

Someone must have watched the Canadian Jrs win last night and thought "wow you can win in this building"

Bylsma is the right guy for that job. It's a team built for offense, and he's won a Cup with a team built for offense. If they get a guy like Babs they're going to have to spend the next three seasons (or so) trying to restructure the roster.

There has been talk of Babcock in Toronto, but just talk, certainly nothing of substance behind it. This firing doesn't make me think it's any more likely though, makes me think the opposite actually. If the plan was really in place to try and bring Babcock in as coach, you'd think they'd keep Randy for the rest of the year and then replace him in the off-season. Now, they will need to bring in someone else, who I'm sure wouldn't be planned to just be around for half a season.

Mikey your GDTs have been excellent this year. Keep up the good work, your efforts as always are appreciated. LGW!

Carlyle didn't compete hard enough

Jesus, please let Babcock go to Toronto. Then he can put Kessel on the fourth line, Phaneuf can play 27 minutes a night because he's "heavy", and a their shutdown line of Bozak-Pannik-Clarkson will be an example to the league on how to suppress shots. All associated with MLSE, the Toronto Press, and Maple Leafs nation will back slap themselves silly and marvel at Babcock's genius. They will lose every other game 2-1, of course.

I know. I'm basically just baiting him because I know how much he loves Smith. Sorry to involve you in my Machiavellian scheming. And sorry to you krsmith17, it's just too fun screwing with you about Riley's brother.

Jurco will still be fine. He's 21. By 24 he'll be doing what Abdelkader is doing now. By 27 he'll be around 50-60 pts. a year...and physical. Everything we hoped Franzen would turn out to be. Jurco is a big kid, but always played a skilled game. He's basically learning how to be a power forward, but learning in the NHL rather than Juniors or AHL. It's a steep learning curve. Abby had the same one. Jurco is already an excellent passer, once he learns how to score in tight, his production will explode.

Canada ain't joking around tonight. 2-0 in the first 3 minutes! GO CANADA!

You know what's extra annoying? This video where Babcock talks about Weiss and extolls him to "score, score, score" in order to help the team. So then Weiss does. And then Babs benches him.

God Bless Matt and his family! He really provided all of us with unlimited information! Sad to see the site go (RWC as well.) We lose nothing without those two sites, but if we lost Matt, the world would lose an exceptional human being, and this world is running low on those, the world needs Matt, we can do without Capgeek. Get Well Soon!

I just don't think Holland would offer up Ouellet or any of our top prospects. Which is exactly why we don't see many trades... I don't believe many teams are interested in a package of 2-3 underachievers and a 2nd. Unless it's a rental/cap dump/+35er its going to cost us a valuable roster piece +. Also I'm pretty sure it will be one of our young wingers going in a trade eventually. Simply a numbers game.

Lol f*** You Kip... Smith is awesome... But in all seriousness, Smith is better than Ouellet right now, and I'm not so sure Ouellet will be better in the future. The sample size is way too small at this point. It is very possible, but we all know that better prospects have played better than Ouellet for a handful of games and then fell off. I find it very difficult to believe that Ouellet would garner more interest than Smith. Possible but doubtful in my opinion...

I thought this as well. But then I remembered it was the Leafs and that "the plan" probably wasn't very well constructed, or the organization caved and deviated from whatever plan they had because of media pressure.

then just put Weiss where Franzen is, and Franzen where Cleary is, and I’d be with you 100%

Canada wins!!! WOO!

This was the first time in years that I've actually supported Canada winning, but I feel bad for the Russians right now, goalies aren't getting the job done. Edit: I take it back, this game is now interesting.

As much as I'd like to see Pulu up with the Wings, I don't think moving Jurco to another team is the solution. I think he's got an edge to his game that you're not going to find with some of the other prospects/players in the organization. Even if his skill game doesn't meet expectation, he can serve as a net presence/puck retrieval type guy. I was all for Jurco starting the year in the AHL (if Alfie was going to return) and I still kind of feel as if he might have been better served down there. He could be dominating on a line with Pulkkinen. It may be against "lesser" competition, but I think it would have done him some good - he's still only 22, and he never got a full season of dominating play in the AHL. Either way, there are about 2-3 guys I'd move before Jurco in order to open a spot for someone else.

Damn there were a lot of Red jerseys at this game. It's to bad the game didn't turn out the way we wanted to but it was still a great time with wings fans there.