Barrie

As someone who listens to Buffalo Sports Talk radio, Nolan being fired isn't a shock, it was expected. Not that I agree with it. He should have been guaranteed 2015-16 for what he had to put up with this year. Babcock to Toronto rumors was the reason why I stopped listening to Toronto media. It's been said every media outlet in Toronto has to have 5 Maple Leafs stories a day, so you can really only believe 10-20% of what they say, which explains why I don't believe the Phaneuf to Detroit talk.

I was looking at the stats of both teams, Ottawa goalies looks like they can match Price. I think Ottawa may win the series, which will cue the "atleast we made it to the playoffs Leafs fans" comment on Facebook. It happens every year

I've been a Detroit sports fan since the 80's, I think I'm a real fan.

Smith (who's a UFA), Weiss, and paying $2 Million of Phaneuf's salary for Phaneuf doesn't sound like a very good deal for the Leafs. If I was them, I'd pass. Unless the Leafs would take Franzen and pay him to sit on the IR like Horton.

A 7 point improvement over last season, and we went from an 8th to a 6th seed. The regular season was a success!

I live close to Buffalo, so I listen to a lot of Buffalo sports talk, I know Sabres fans are thrilled. It's a great sports town, and I'm happy they're adding either McDavid or Eichel to their team.

In October if someone told us we'd finish 3rd in the division (assuming we hold on tonight), we'd all be thrilled! We moved up a couple spots compared to last season. I think the Wings accomplished their goals for the year. Let's see what happens in the playoffs!

I don't see the Leafs trading Phaneuf to the Wings. I thought the Phaneuf to the Wings rumors was a bunch of BS, and was something the Toronto media made up to try and get other teams interest in him. Holland may have asked the Leafs about Phaneuf, which is a GM's job, but it doesn't mean he was seriously interested. It would cost the Leafs more to trade Dion to the Wings. They'd have to pay part of his salary, and would have to take on one of our big salary guys. It would be a bigger hit on their cap. Also, we have 6 RFA's after this season needing contracts. Trading him to a team like Columbus, similar to Clarkson, makes more sense. However, I think the Leafs are stuck with Phaneuf and Kessel.

I like the pre-1999 system too, but I don't think they'll ever go back to it. I've been saying for years make every game 3 points, 3 for a regulation win, 2 for a OT or SO win, and 1 for a OT or SO loss.

Anyone who complains about the in game entertainment at the Joe should attend a sporting event in Toronto. Toronto treats their fans like a bunch of 12 year olds with ADD. EVERY stoppage in play, they either blast music so loud to the point where you can't even talk to the person sitting beside you, or the person in the stand with the mic is talking. They don't give you any time to talk about the game with the people around you. I stopped going to Toronto sporting events because I found the in game entertainment insulting.

Speak for yourself, despite one bad month, I've enjoyed watching this team. Have you even been to the Joe? It's loud! You must not watch the away games then...

The thing about the Cap, there's a lot of good teams, no great teams. Anyone can win in the playoffs.

The more I learn about Blashill, the more I think I'd be good either way if Babcock left.

Imagine if LA won? 29 teams and their fan bases would be pissed!

http://nhllotterysimulator.com/#/ I just tried it, Buffalo won.

I wouldn't think twice about losing Hudler and Filppula. The majority of Wings fans wanted Hudler gone after 2010-11, and Filppula is over paid. I think Tatar and Nyquist will be better players then them, if they aren't already are.

Yes, but that's College hockey, not the NHL. It's easier to play the trap on the Olympic ice. NHL Coaches know how to slow the game down, which is what the original post is talking about.

With what we know about concussions and a lawsuit against the league by former players, fighting won't be coming back anytime soon.

I heard the guys on AM550 in Buffalo talking about this. I too, don't like all the offense coming on PP's, so I don't want to see an increase in penalty calls. I honestly don't know what can be done without making huge changes to the game. Usually I have an answer and opinions on everything I don't want to see the League go to the Olympic ice, I think the game is slow and boring on the larger ice, and it decreases the shots on net. I don't want them to make the nets bigger either, there will be too many cheap goals. I think things work in cycles, and they should just leave things alone. I personally don't mind low scoring games. I think 3-2 games are more exciting then 6-5. If there was a big decrease in shots on goal, then I'd be worried.

I'm assuming Nyquist will get a contract similar to what Tatar got last year, and Smith will get a contract like DeKeyer's.

I think if Arizona wins the lottery, it's fixed. I don't like the lottery because it allows the league to control where some players like McDavid go. Other sports with the lottery fix it so star prospects go to the big markets. With the NHL it's the opposite, Bettman sends them to bankrupt franchises. I live about 45 minutes west of Buffalo, so I listen to their sports talk radio. I hope the get McDavid. I've been to about 10 Sabres games, they're a great hockey market and deserve a guy like McDavid.

Again, which is why I didn't believe all the Phaneuf to the Wings rumors. We could NEVER give the Leafs that kind of return. Up and coming teams can give that back, not a team near the top of the standings. And how would you clear cap room so Phaneuf can be here for 6 years?

Trading Phaneuf to the Wings isn't even a good deal for the Leafs. As mentioned, they'd have to pay $2Million of Phaneuf's salary, take Weiss, and probably Smith. Add that all up, and it's more of a cap hit for the Leafs, so they may as well just keep him. I still think Phaneuf to the Wings rumors have been BS since day 1, it just doesn't make sense for either team. I do think once the Sabres draft McDavid or Eichel, they'd trade for Kessel. They have cap room, and some picks Toronto would like in return.

That's what the Salary Cap does, it levels the playing field. There isn't great teams anymore, everyone is just good.

I agree, I think this recent road trip proved we can beat every team. The West teams were trying to beat us up physically, but they couldn't keep up with us on the scoreboard. Teams are going to have to stop trying to intimidate us, because it's not working.