Look out below!!!! 7th in the East and falling fast
TOR vs ATL Dec.05/06
Line Combo TOI
I'm so disillusioned today. How can team embarass it self more than by consecutively giving away third periods? Why even play well the first two if you are going to shit the bed when it matters? What is Raycroft's save percentage by period I wonder? Not that he is soley responsible, but he sure isn't coming up with "timely" saves.
This team lacks finish, but it isn't the kind around the crease that has me worried. I don't know where this sense of entitlement comes from, but I wouldn't bet a cent on the Maple Leafs in a back-alley, or divisional, dog fight. It is almost as if the opposition is rope-a-doping them, lulling them into complacency. And the even scarier aspect is that when the team steps on the gas again, they are easily picked apart. That doesn't leave many appealing options when you can't play careful and you can't play aggressive.
And the media blaming referee revenge? Yeah, the refs rigged the puck so White would clear it over the glass, and put double-sided tape on Gill's stick so he'd be called for hooking repeatedly. And made Tucker a hot-head. Though, his reaction was somewhat welcome considering the lack of reaction from the rest of the team.
Since my optimism for this season is dying a quick death, here is how the 07-08 team is shaping up under the projected $47.5m salary cap:
Mats Sundin $6.3 million
Bryan McCabe $5.75 million
Pavel Kubina $5 million
Tomas Kaberle $4.25 million
Hal Gill $2.1 million
Andrew Raycroft $2 million
Chad Kilger $900,000
Kyle Wellwood $875,000
Mat Stajan $875,000
Alex Steen $720,000
Staffan Kronwall $612,000
Ben Ondrus $475,000
Andy Wozniewski $475,000
John Pohl $462,500
Other considerations:
(Ed Belfour buyout $700,000)
Total salary cap commitments: $31.5 million
Salary cap remaining: $16 million
UFA: Mike Peca, Darcy Tucker, Jeff O'Neill, Nik Antropov, Wade Belak, Bates Battaglia.
RFA: Alexei Ponikarovsky, Ian White, Carlo Colaiacovo, Alexander Suglobov, Brendan Bell, Jay Harrison.
Line Combo TOI
I'm so disillusioned today. How can team embarass it self more than by consecutively giving away third periods? Why even play well the first two if you are going to shit the bed when it matters? What is Raycroft's save percentage by period I wonder? Not that he is soley responsible, but he sure isn't coming up with "timely" saves.
This team lacks finish, but it isn't the kind around the crease that has me worried. I don't know where this sense of entitlement comes from, but I wouldn't bet a cent on the Maple Leafs in a back-alley, or divisional, dog fight. It is almost as if the opposition is rope-a-doping them, lulling them into complacency. And the even scarier aspect is that when the team steps on the gas again, they are easily picked apart. That doesn't leave many appealing options when you can't play careful and you can't play aggressive.
And the media blaming referee revenge? Yeah, the refs rigged the puck so White would clear it over the glass, and put double-sided tape on Gill's stick so he'd be called for hooking repeatedly. And made Tucker a hot-head. Though, his reaction was somewhat welcome considering the lack of reaction from the rest of the team.
Since my optimism for this season is dying a quick death, here is how the 07-08 team is shaping up under the projected $47.5m salary cap:
Mats Sundin $6.3 million
Bryan McCabe $5.75 million
Pavel Kubina $5 million
Tomas Kaberle $4.25 million
Hal Gill $2.1 million
Andrew Raycroft $2 million
Chad Kilger $900,000
Kyle Wellwood $875,000
Mat Stajan $875,000
Alex Steen $720,000
Staffan Kronwall $612,000
Ben Ondrus $475,000
Andy Wozniewski $475,000
John Pohl $462,500
Other considerations:
(Ed Belfour buyout $700,000)
Total salary cap commitments: $31.5 million
Salary cap remaining: $16 million
UFA: Mike Peca, Darcy Tucker, Jeff O'Neill, Nik Antropov, Wade Belak, Bates Battaglia.
RFA: Alexei Ponikarovsky, Ian White, Carlo Colaiacovo, Alexander Suglobov, Brendan Bell, Jay Harrison.
posted by mike @ 9:52 AM
5 Comments:
At 10:53 PM,
Linquist said…
Sucks, but wait for tomorrow. You wouldn't think just having PJ Axelsson out would affect a team so much, but just watch. Final score: 5-2 Toronto (Leafs with 2 PPG).
At 12:48 PM,
Anonymous said…
Toss in a new contract for Mats at a lower cap figure and the Leafs might not be in such a bad position this off-season.
At 2:28 PM,
mike said…
Alan, we'll see about that. I'm not feeling too peachy with Razor at the moment. And I'm right back where this season started; griping for a full 60 minute effort. Not a good combo.
PPP, I read about giving him a raise because he lost the most via the roll-back. Not sure how I feel about that. Not sure how I feel about more than $3.25m/yr for Darcy either. And thank goodness Poni is still a RFA. Of the UFAs, only Darcy deserves a substantial raise. Maybe Bates too.
At 9:38 PM,
Linquist said…
Okay, I was wrong. Again. At least you can't blame Raycroft.
At 12:35 PM,
PPP said…
A raise?! If they want to make up the rollback to him give him a $4M/year job after he retires.
Darcy should make about what you think. Key word is should because someone will line his pockets despite the fact that he doesn't defend very well or score much 5 on 5. I love the guy but $5M is ridiculous.
I think the signings that need to be done can be done pretty cheaply thereby leaving the Leafs with a good chunk of change to improve the team. Of course JFJ might still be in charge so get ready to see Darcy at $5M, Peca at $4M, and probably some over the hill sniper at $6M.
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