frankgrimes

Burke and his team thought the Leafs would be better then they really were, their goaltending and defense didn't work so they've rushed Gustavsson, then traded for Phaneuf and Giguere but still finished with the 2nd overall. Kessel is an awesome player and I don't know why this guy is so underapreciated in Toronto ? Not Leafsfans are paying this ridiculous prices it's the whole corporate stuff (guys in suits, looking at their stock market while at the game...) the real Leafsfans are outside watching in bars, video walls... I personally believe their offer has to be at least 2x the amount other teams are offering and even then Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Boston are much better options with less media frenzy.

Well I would settle for Seabrook too, guy is a beast and a very reliable defender easily top 10

Nice to read and good seeing the team getting fan support can't help but cheer for Rinne. He may be the best goalie in the league at the moment

A That media is really something else, Kessel is by far their best player and yet is getting blamed for everything. How about asking Phaneuf, Lupul, Kadri or jvr such an insulting question and then have the balls to get defensive? Kessel handled that extremely well I would have told the reporters either Feschuk leaves the room now or the interview is over. Maybe he is out of shape, maybe his defensive game is lacking but guess what 35 goals + and by far the best player on the team so leave the kid alone! Not every player can do what the captain did If Babcock considers Toronto the media access would get limited and they'd focus on the things that count like winning games and putting in an effort every night. Let Mr. I talk like a GM handle the media stuff...If there's ever an article questioning why players don't want to play in Toronto guys like Feschuk should take a look in the mirror. Makes you appreciate the right lipped access for the Wings even more

that left babe hot chick Just wow heck they should have enough money to built a nice home gym and let the personal trainers train them there there is absolutely no excuse for something like this. If I were a GM I'd waive the guy and tell him to either get in shape or his career with my team is done. Chara is like 38 and in phenomenal shape, Stallone 60 ! has still an athlete body so yeah just shocked.

I'm absolutely shocked that guy used to be in phenomenal shape how the f*** can a millionaire athlete be so lazy ? It's unbelievable the Maple Leafs forums on HF and their official one are having 4 threads and one already over 40 pages just because a coach got fired this fanbase is really something else

Especially since he is having this great relationship with Shanahan lol...

Well to be fair Nonis didn't build this team Burke brought in the core. Nonis brought in Clarkson, Komarov and Reilly

Why would he be a fool ? The only two remaining stars on this team are on the wrong side of 30, the defense needed to be fixed since Godström retired. Other teams would be lining up with trucks full of money infront of his house I know Edmonton sucks right now, but what if Bob Nicholson takes over, Katz offers a crazy amount of money and guarantee a bigger role in player decisions plus they draft McDavid ? Then add Pittsburgh which is an absolute nobrainer coaching the best player in the game and one of the best in Malkin. St. Louis ? If they fail I mean Pietrangelo, Backes, Tarasenko, Schwartz I've just finished listening http://www.tsn.ca/video/leafs-lunch-shanahan-taking-control-1.176076 and they really believe adding a million on top of 4 million would be enough to make Iltich - IF Babs wants to stay - say no ? lamo how close minded is their memory do we really need to remind them, then the Wings did have a higher salarycup then the oh so rich Leafs? The Wings aren't the Ducks heck Mr. I would spend 200 Million if it means he can ice a winner, Bell and Rogers? I doubt it. Torts for the laughs would be absolute gold can you imagine Feschuk, Cox and Simmonds versus Tortarella ? :* sign me up for that sitcom I'll watch everyday I'll promise

Well I think it's an incredible stupid question that seriously provokes such a reaction. If I were Kessel I'd pay someone to make me a homepage with a small content management system and all I'd be writing down are the media guys I'm not going to answer questions from anymore so they could look it up themselves and if they still asked something, I'd just not answer anything. Wouldn't that be tampering ? I think Babcock is the type of guy who doesn't want to ask question he wants to go right down to work and try to become better everyday but man the Toronto media is ruthless even he would have a hard time there.

The good point is, some of the "let go Babcock" crowd might get their wish and depending on how his successor will do we might have our own "fire coach X, hire coach Y" just like most other teams in the league. as for this topic wouldn't surprise me if Edmonton picks Carlyle up

Good job Bettman, the NHL had something great going on and yet in a span of not even 7 years they've managed to absolutely destroy it by: 1. watering it down with the Stadium Series 2. rehashing the same teams again and again 3. matching up two teams that don't have any rivalry nor hatred going on If the NHL is serious about this thing, they better have a Bruins - Habs matchup at Fenwaypark - have the Dropkick Murphys as the opening act - next year. This also just proves what I've always thought the event itself is nothing, if the participating teams don't have a large enough following, rivalry and the conditions aren't there. Wings - Leafs had a record breaking 2,9 Teams that deserve one Wild, Avs (hate to say it but yeah...), Bolts, Habs... http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/nhl-winter-classic-earns-lowest-rating-in-game-s-history-160140036.html

Okay this will only add more fodder to the Babcock to Toronto speculations. If I were in Babcocks shoes I'd love it every coach getting fired increases his leverage and Toronto for sure has the bucks to pay the man whatever he wants and offer him more of a say in whom he wants on the roster or to trade for. Carlyle is a hardnosed, oldschool coach his act wears thin with players very quickly I mean, this is a guy who butted heads with Anaheim biggest stars and two extremely hard workers (Perry, Getzlaf). The guy just has this my way or the highway philosophy and nowadays s tars won't accept that. Now the focus will be on Nonis - whom I'd love as an adviser if they fire him - and for sur e some of the players.

Thats actually a great idea, I would try hard to get Carolinas one could be easily a top 5 pick and I would love Hanifin in the Winged Wheel. Skates almost as smooth as Niedermeyer, big him and Dekeyser would make an awesome first pairing in a few years. The only problem I see: every expert is saying how deep this draft is so the prices will continue to go up and Carolina might hold on to that pick

Gotta win this game

Maybe I'm in the minority but I really love that tournament especially this year since it will the only chance of watching McDavid versus Eichel in a game. I don't really care much about the pre-games but a few tendencies are clear: ~ Canadas top two lines are an offensive juggernaut as expected ~ The US has a very deep and balanced team - to me they should be the #1 challenger for Canada ~ Sweden isn't as good as they used to the team will heavily miss Brodin, Forsberg their goaltending has been supbar so far ~ Finland and team Russia are once again the dark horses and if Saros can repeat his stellar gd performance the Fins could be a very tough to beat team again So let the McEichel show begin here we go (what a stupid TSN slogan liked every house is inhouse much better...)

Well in a perfect world I would have prefered Nill - Babcock or even better Yzerman - Babcock and Holland as VP of hockey operations but that's not gonna happen for at least another 4 years. Personally I think the decision according Babcock has already been made otherwise he would have long been said, so the question for me is whom to I want as a replacement. Blashill ? Great success in the AHL but remember Eakins Bylsma ? His offensive style is not the right approach for this team Tortarella ? Hell no Julien ? If the Bruins fire him ...interesting choice but the Wings are way too soft for his style of play Hitchcock ? Has the Blues playing a very tight defensive system behind a comparable goalie but their defense is much better...Pietrangelo is easily a top 5 defender but he should do better than all the aforementioned coaches Hartley ? Loves hard work, is a no BS kind of guy although the makeup of the team would have to change Other than that there really aren't much choices for the Wings so would I prefer Babs staying ? Of course but I don't think it will happen.

Its not doubting Jurco just: The team needs an improvement and the only guys that generate interest are Jurco, Tatar, Mrazek, Nyquist and of course Mantha Maybe send some players down for a conditioning stint and see if more young players can surprise. Sent from my BlackBerry

McDavid is amazing the guy is only 17, was injured and now has point after point. If he can do that against Russia too they might vote him as player of the tournament Godla put on an absolute show against Canada hope he receives standing ovations

Well you still need to get the job done, which isn't always easy Sweden, USA and Russia had great rosters too but they couldn't beat Canada so. I'm not disagreeing with you but if defense first isn't the best way to play what then is the best way to play ? This team for sure can't risk to get into a shooting match with other teams with that defense.

And in hindsight it turn out pretty werll for Canada, they've dominated their opponents. The problem is, nobody knows what type of team the Wings are so it's hard for every coach to give them the proper system. If you don't know what you have you can't create a system for it simple. For sure this team is not tough we know that (probably the softest team in the NHL), are they skilled ? Compared to Wings standards no they aren't...so what type of team are they ? If I'm Babcock I'd asked Holland that question and get his input on how to get more consistency into this lineup. Do I think Pulkkinen is the answer ? Hardly but giving him a few games and see how it goes can't hurt.

Personally I think a trade to change the dynamics, culture of this team is needed. Maybe some players are to complacent because there has to be some sort of explanation for all that inconsistency. Buffalo needs offensive help and Detroit needs defensive help, moving Myers also helps Buffalo with their tank and yet those two teams can't come to an agreement it's just sad. Is Myers a great defender currently ? No, but who knows what that big hulking boy could turn into under Babcock's watch at least he can't be worse than Lashoff, Kindl, Ericsson. Also keep in mind Chicago will be in caphell next year and Seabrook is going into the last year of his contract, that might be a nice option too.

To sum up the game: Russia ready like a bear Sweden asleep So the outcome doesn't surprise, congrats to Russia.

If Sweden wants to have a chance their goaltending and defense have to be better. Powerplay is crazy good but that alone won't save them against that Canadian machine. I just hope it won't be a complete blowout. The amount of talent Sweden is producing every year is just awesome

No reason to complain Holland did have the chance to buy him out in the of season but they've opted not to do so, this contract looks bad now just wait for the next months, years.... will look horrible by then. This is nothing against the Mule, people thought he could turn into something he just isn't which would be a hulking, physical goal scoring machine that can screen goaltenders. If someone needs to get called out it would be Holland for not buying him out as I've said. Oh yeah it could have hurt the streak so cars the goal is to win the cup and not to barely make the playoffs and getting bounced in the 1 or 2 round at best. Babcock has to play down to the talent of the given roster an all offense style works only if a team had the right players for it or as long as the opponent hasn't figured out how to counter it. In terms of the wings it's intimidation and take away space from the two remaining stars of a much better Wings team. So the best way to win with lesser talent is to play a defense first style..