Free Tickets

Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs win 5-4

Chris says:

So,

At the absolute last minute S and I got tickets to the Leafs game last night, for the shiny price of cheap as free.

We were in the second row in the lower reds so the seats were absolutely phenomenal. If I can get away with it at work, I’ll upload a couple pictures from last night’s game.

Our seats allowed us access to the Air Canada executive lounge. (Think of it as the place where all the rich, old, fat, white men go to die.) It was pretty swank. But, on our way up to the lounge we had to pile into an elevator with David Suzuki. And by pile into an elevator I mean I was literally squished into David’s personal breathing room, which was just awkward for the both of us. Cool, but awkward.

Then in the exec lounge, I’m drinking one of my el cheapo eight dollar domestic beers when I look up to see Wendel Clark at the table next to me. S flatly refused to believe it was Clark until they flashed an older picture of him up on the overhead screen just before the game.

And FINALLY, as we’re sitting in our seats getting a little picture happy with the camera, (look I never thought I’d ever get an opp to be this close to the game – they really were great seats), Walter Gretzky came out and started posing for pictures with all the kids and their parents in the back of the section right in front of us. The man was literally five feet away. We snapped a couple pics but they honestly weren’t the greatest.

I honestly don’t go in for the fanboy routine, but there I was in free Leaf seats, in the lower bowl, with a beer in my hand and an opportunity to meet Walter Gretzky.

Chris = happy.

Oh, and the Leafs won too, which was pretty great.

Steve says:

You bastard! Sooo lucky!
David Suzuki! amazing!
ha!

That's really cool. I imagine that was a lot of fun.
I was only able to see highlights since I am stuck in Ottawa, and I cant even see the game on TV.
As for the game itself, I am actually surprised that they won. But they just held on against the late period surge. But everyone looked shaky to me. Even Toskala let out some HUGE rebounds...some great saves, but also some huge rebounds....which did cost him.
And Kubina decision to ice the puck with 8 seconds left in a 1 goal game was probably not the best choice to make.
The Ferguson interview was a refreshing change from the usual white-washed answers we get from Leafs people. He basically said that the team underachieved and that the buck stops with him. No running, no hiding or anything...just straight up answers...weird.
Also, I saw Blake on "The Hour" last night and it was pretty clear to me that he doesn't want to stay in Toronto. When asked about why he wasn't scoring goals like last year, he responded "sometimes change is good...and then , like this, sometimes change is bad".
When asked if he would finish the season here, he just sort of laughed and said "we'll see".
Never, at any point did he say that he wants to stay in Toronto and be a part of turning things around (like Sundin does at every chance).

that was a bit disheartening.

So I guess a win was good...but does it just prolong the pain of havig Peddie and JFJ running the ship...will JFJ be in charge of a Sundin trade?

Game 26 - Leafs Win! Leafs Win! 4-2

Steve says:
Sundin with a sweet backhander...how that went in, I'll never know...and Toskala playing a great game especially near the end with a HUGE blocker save!
On the 2nd goal by Notlanta (ha !), Enstrom just walks in from the right point while Stajan is caught watching the puck instead of taking his man out....I hope someone points this out to him because that is how we are letting in most of our goals. Our defensive mode is supposed to take out the man...but we often get caught watching the puck or following the man in to the corner...must be more careful to watch for open players.

It was a great game for the players last night...but there is a problem that the win creates....it allows the OTPP to stay the course just that much longer with JFJ....and if the Leafs manage a win on Saturday, then who knows how much longer JFJ can stretch that into him keeping his job.

I went and reviewed JFJ's actual record of trades etc. and it was pretty depressing. Most of the people we traded our future away for are no longer playing hockey and/or only played 15 or so games for us...woo hoo (/sarcasm) .

I hear reports out of Florida and McLean with regards to management changes...I wonder if that will turn into anything ...do we want it to?

ps. Ottawa lost it's 5th in a row.... :-)

Game 25 - Habs win in s/o 4-3

Steve says:

Captain clutch gives the Leafs (and PM and JFJ) hope with 17 seconds left thanks to some real hard work by Jason Blake....but the PM fucks it all up by putting Tucker in the shootout!

I really feel bad for Jason Blake...the poor guy cant buy a goal....he is working so hard and in the last few games I have seen at least a dozen shots that would have gone in had Jason not been jinxed by some weird voodoo.

And as for Vesa toskala...poor guy again...our D just keeps leaving him out to dry. I wouldn't say even one of those goals was his fault. He didn't let in one bad goal with the possible exception being the only that got jammed under his pad..but can you say "goaltender interference"?

The Hab player was all over him and jabbing Toskala with his stick...at what point does it become interference/slashing/spearing ?

It will be interesting to see if the OTPP finally steps in and does something about this train wreck. Sundin and Toskala deserve better.

ps. I think the zamboni driver was drunk.

the GM role

Steve says:

The word on the street is that the Leafs are looking to sign a "senior role" in management. They want someone like Muckler or Bowman to watch over JFJ. Bowman recently said "It's not going to happen",
( http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2007/06/26/4291013-sun.html)
which I think speaks volumes about what Bowman thinks of MLSE and what shape our organisation is in. That article is written by Steve Simmons though,...so read it with a grain of salt...he hates the Leafs....but some points do ring true of Peddie and MLSE.

If the Leafs can get Muckler I don't think that he will be happy giving "advice" to JFJ. I expect that if MLSE really wants Muckler, he will be offered JFJ's job.

Which I would support 100%

(...i think the phrase 110% is gaaay...)

Chris says:

It's always good to have experienced hockey men in your organization. To that end I think Muckler would be a big help for us.

What I don't like about the whole thing is how they're clearly positioning Muckler to be JFJ's replacement. How much does that suck if you're JFJ?

I'm not Ferguson's biggest fan. But I do think that he's getting a bit of a bum's rush.

His last two seasons as GM he didn't make it to the post season and in a hockey mad town like T.O. you're damn right that will potentially put your head on the chopping block. But realistically, has the man been given a fair shake?

His first time out of the gate he's still dealing with the effects of the Post Lockout NHL reality. Which means the Leafs are carrying more expensive aging vets then is good for any team.

And last year we had more injured man hours then any other team in the League. Considering we lost our spot in the playoffs by one freaking game, you can't tell me that's not significant.

Basically this is the year he has to shine. He's got the coach he wants and he's in the position to build the team he wants.

You have to let your GM do his job. You've got to respect him enough to let him suceed or fail under his own steam. MLSE isn't willing to do that. Between the one year extensions and shopping for his replacement, it's clear they've already made up their minds.

Steve says:

It seems to me that by creating the "Senior Management of Hockey" position, which has never been there before, MLSE is saying "well JFJ, here it is,...your shot...you do good this year and your job is secure, and the Senior position probably goes away (since it is an added expense to have a babysitter for you), BUT screw up again, and your goose is cooked and Muckler is poised to step in..."
However, this could totally backfire on them, if Muckler decides to retire after a year...assuming it all even happens in the first place...
it sucks to have someone breathing over your shoulder while trying to do your job, but if JFJ can prove that he is worthy of GM'ing the hallowed Leafs, then I bet we see Muckler cut loose after a year.