jtvoxboi

Sound thinking... The cup ain't next week, either is the All Star break... I think health is the biggest issue, and mental health and humility in the dressing room is and WILL BE huge in the 2nd half... The boys have been flying as a TEAM... Lets hope it stays that way... J ps Washington ... the latest victim of :hlogo: Cheers!

...had to do this in favour of my 'soft hands habs fav'... Samsonov = eyes = Kovalev = learning = another deadly 5 years... :?- ...for all of my friends that did not pass grade 4 math (don't be offended, it's okay, we were all too busy watching the game to study)... At practices, teammates watch each other like hawks, and a perfect example is Ryder's stick-handling. A year ago his finesse was very, very low. Sure, the effort was there, but everything is learning. This year we see some constant imporvements. Don't get me wrong, he has a long way to go, and will never have Kovi's hands (he'd have to shorten his stick too...). You can tell that many guys on the roster spend time watching Alex' hands. But in the case of Samsonov, a guy like this can learn, and learn, and learn AK's 'language' (pun intended) and has years of great wheels ahead of him. It's like a big bro - little bro thing. We all get to watch this happen, and they paractice and play together NOW, this year... We get to see the improvements as they happen, and they will. It truly is part of this years cup run. This doesn't take away from Kovi, but it puts him in the quiet vet's position, where he passes on his trade... ...a great role for a great guy. If the ego's are in the right place, Sam's developement will produce a quicker, new and improved shiny Kovalev in the end, but his shirt # will read 15 :hlogo:, not 27 :hlogo: . AK's future words... "I taught him that!" Bob Gainey will have to bank on Sam, and the GM man is brilliant, so I have little fear. If Alex 'fell down' permanently this year or next , I believe we would see Sam slip into a lot of what Kovalev is and would be if younger and healthier. For you older guys, remember the speed of Russ Cortnall in a habs jersey? Slip that into the soft hands of a Kovalev ... Everybody, put on your "Depends"... 'cause if all goes as it appears it may, the future opposition is either going to dump in their pants or feel like it as Sam blows by (on the outside, the inside, the inside out or the outside in). So, just keep them (AK & SS) together, and keep them happy. The future is bright...IMHO. And all this rambling doesn't even touch on Higgins or Latendresse and other young players who are all watching, and learning... Cheers, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year all, stay safe, so we can all enjoy 'the world's best game' for a long time! My New Years resolution is, "I Promise to be at the Stanley Cup Parade in MTL this year." How about you? J

This was just to tempting... WOW!!! if you check out the Leafs web page, they've started registration for kids hockey camp. And they say spots will fill up early... I don't doubt it cause there's about 23 guys (all too old to register, but...) that really need to attend already. It will give them something else to do besides early spring and summer golfing. ...sadly there are no pro's playing in the NHL who want to go to a toronto hockey summer camp to show the leafs how to skate... Again, JFJ will step in and run the drills... (unless he's relieved of duty before that) He's got such foresight and a brilliant mind set. If all works out, these kids could be future leaf stars... or the NHL's if they go to a real camp elsewhere... never letting up on the anti leaf dogma... J

IMO (humble at that) Murray has fallen asleep at the wheel. I'd do anything to swap out Max for weak productivity. It may take a couple of weeks for all this to transpire, but Lapierre should be back soon. I agree, with Hamilton's busy schedule, it would keep Lapierre sharp and working towards something huge... what do you think is in his head now... getting back to the NHL on '07 for the 2nd half of a rocking season where a rookie is part of potential and currently probable cup chasing headlines. With Carbo having this kind of stuff just jingling (that's jingle - ing like the Christmas Carole) in his pocket, every coach and GM in the league is wondering how you stop the heavy onslaught of habs talent in the background. Again, Mr. Gainey has worked all this out, and remember, Doug Jarvis was right there a short time ago watching Hamilton... They know what they are doing... It's not the first time for any of the staff... GO :hlogo: GO! J

I couldn't agree more... the only issue, let' face it, he's dying to make the roster... Hope he wouldn't get too comfortable, too easily calling the Bell Centre 'home'. ...But, his A numbers recently are perfect, so... I'm praying for a great habs related Christmas present. Somebody go get the name plate made for the locker room...pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssse! Would that be called a Maxim-um Chrsitmas .... ? J

Agreed, Huet is a huge part of our game, name a cup that wasn't rested partially on some monster between the pipes. My point is that these commentators and play-by-play guys (in TO) who talk and talk and talk... The visiting Florida play-by-play guys last night were very professional for a bunch of (only for comparison in years of hockey play-by-play) greenies compared to the trash spewing Toronto mic men. Listen to the type of dreamland mouthwork they use all the time. ...If Sundin or his 'robin' Wellwood were actually truely great, they'd never shut up. Mats is traveling the record goal numbers, endlessly talked about as though he's the head of the next NHL goal scoring king generation... and I'm happy for him, but you've gotta' love those 80+ game seasons... some of these records were started with less games a year to play - even 20% less... take away 20% of MS's goals, he's a little above average. If a current Montreal player hasn't scored 15 in 25, he's not playing up to par and won't be a threat against the Leafs. If we used that thinking, Lapierre is going to be the next Lafleur. One article around TO and on the Leafs site recited how the leafs were all laughing and giddy at practice - a 3 game win streak will do that to you... as though they were back on track, ready to plow through to the cup since the slump 'was' over. I can say I need more that all my fingers to list out all the leafs should fire, dump, flush, part with, trade, bury, and burn at the stake. Then they may have a cup team in a few years. Anyone who wants to stand up and say giving John F. his option year was good is lost, and has no idea. He's done nothing. He even writes a boring blog. Sorry John, get out of the game you were never in... Man am I nasty... + :hlogo: = J

Someone be kind enough to explain what was being said by the RDS broadcasters last night after the game... I speak french, understand it well, but was was still cheering as the commentators made the following statement. Something about Lapierre having to visit the AHL for a few games... Is there a rule requiring that Maxim L. heads back to Hamilton for a few games until a certain date? Or is it based upon someone else being sent ....somewhere...due to player/roster/$$$ limitations? Right now the guy is on fire and a total inspiration on that bench. I wouldn't change a thing right now... Anybody know???

I'm listening to the play by play of the Leafs game after MLT just beat Buffalo, and one of the Leafs announcers on the Toronto broadcast just said and I quote, "I just don't believe the habs yet 'cause you never know how they win every night, there's no one guy." The other guy pipes up that it's "special teams". Ya think? Wrong. Sadly we only scored 2 PP goals tonight and 3 at even? Radio challenged broadcasting... much like the Leaf's team. They went on to say you can't use shot percentage as a good statistic 'cause most of the shots on (Florida) Ed Bel were into his bread-basket. Is there a stat for the loser constantly shooting the puck into that bread baset? As long as there's corporate money (which could care less about the true fans of the game), there will always be this crap in Toronto Hockey. ...Must have been the PP that killed the Leafs tonight... Sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad excuse for a mediocre team and second-rate broadcast crew. Face it, the Leafs need a major face lift, or a miracle. ...oh wait... John Fergies raising his hands... I think he's gonna' part the ice... Sad, sad, sad... and laughing... J

Yeah baby... Game over just minutes ago!!!!!!!!!!!!! Max, you rock! You'll be back in MTL soon if you keep your hockey habit up in th O-zone. You wrecked Buffalo's night. Can I say I told you so... The habs did what I sais 80% of the night and it paid off huge! Good game... and we can beat the best of them... Cheers and beers boys! :hlogo: J

Guys, we're all really excited and we have no idea hot tough and rough this game could/should be. IM humble O, we have to win this one deep in the offensive zone... All year long, I've waited for someone to jump all over Buffalo a la Flyers of the 70's. Not a brawl, but a heavy hitting game that puts them on their heels. We have enough weight, speed and end to end ability that I think we can clean a few clocks. I'd never want to see an intentional injury, but guys like Briere and Afinogenov float around with little price to pay. If the north-south pass is freely made to these guys, over and over they will eventually kill ya'. So the best defense would be (a strong offensive zone charge) to make it hurt to dig out the puck in the Buffalo d-zone or to even prepare to make the break-out pass. Put up the wall. I know the new (now fast and hook-free) NHL is much tidier, but no one has stopped good hard clean checking. Mr. Cherry would be proud. Make every puck handling situation a 'run for your life' event. Fear of a relentless huge body-check would instantly change Buffalo's game. "Mr. Bonk and fellow linemates, meet Mr. Briere and Co. Now Mr. Bonk everything in the arena tonight wearing bull horns should be put in it's place, on it's hide, understood?" We've got to make it dangerous to skate the open ice. It's hard to 'send away' an offense if the puck never gets there. A few crushing blows while digging out the puck in the O-zone will put the BS offense out to pasture. Don't let :hlogo: them forget :hlogo: that you're always :hlogo: there and :hlogo: ready to put :hlogo: them through :hlogo: the boards. Get my point? The way Max L. has been grinding in the offensive zone to dig out pucks has worked, and if a few vets follow this rookie's lead, Buffalo will never be the same again...kidding... Again in my opinion, we can do this... we just have to do it for 60 minutes, not the last 40. Enjoy the game... GHG!GHG!GHG! J

I watched AK skate in training camp in Pierrefonds this year before the season started. He's got wheels, when he needs them. So he's protecting the 'knee', wouldn't you??? I watched 36 minutes of 3 minute heavy, 3 minute light skating drills and he rolls by everyone whenever he wants. Robiero (no offense Mike) was made history shortly after that... Kovi stays. By season's end, if he stays healthy he will be every opponents nightmare. The habs's staff knows the score. This is the regular season, we're sitting pretty good in the standings and Kov's magic hands already scare every opponent, listen to the play-by-play - even the comentator's are holding their breath, enough said. Let him show flashes of the magic all season, keep the knee healthy, and if he works hard - even every 3rd shift in the P-Offs, he's gonna' smoke. Gainey and Carbo know his health, and I think they all know his chances of making huge highlight reels for the '07 Lord Stanley mug. When the team (coaching staff) let Samsonov struggle for 20 games, they know things will come together at the right time for each player. If AK's numbers are light all year and he helps us get there, he's done a great job, and if he hangs in, plays well and turns a few D-men inside out during the playoffs, it'll be worth it for :hlogo: . He's also taking penalties, almost freely, letting everyone know not to mess with him. He'll try and take anyone's head off if they try to screw up his face or knees. Yes, Tucker knows. The message is clear, 'just let me play the hockey you all only wish you could play'. The joys of a finesse player who can make everyone - from other players to the broadcast booth crap their pants. No-one knows what to expect from the habs on a nightly basis, like chess, Guy bounces the lines around and almost any Carbo-combo can be lethal. try line matching against that.... Bonk to Kovalev, who turns _________ (fill the blank with any All-Star defenseman) into jello with some quick stick-handling, passes to Souray, he shoots... Yeah baby..... J

:hlogo: "The league’s slapshot king, Souray" - www.canadiens.com ...too close...

Yeah, I've seen this before, last year was a repetitive nightmare of the same "B" rate attitude. :puke: After living in TO for 11 years, I love being back in a city where the hockey slogan is "The City is Hockey" which supports the game, not a city where the slogan is "Buy your pink Leaf hoodie now!" (kidding) "the passion that unities us all" supports a supposed "leaf hockey nation". Am I supposed to want to marry my City's hockey team? The hoodie is cool as an idea to get the ladies into the game, though... print 'em with every logo... and make a home and away and a vintage version... Sadly fans who rage on about TML don't know the league would have had the same Cup winner 37 years and counting with out them or their team. Where is the hero "Domi" anyway? How soon, how easily forgotten... nice faithful fans... A much better off-ice hero than on, but nobody in TO cares. They just brag and brag and brag about nothing... Paul M. has his work cut out. Carbo's dive into the NHL coaching water looks better than Paul's second attempt. Lastly, enjoy and laugh at my injections into Richard Peddie's announcement below marked by { } ... Richard Peddie, president and chief executive officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment {otherwise known as post season golf tournament organiser}, announced Wednesday that the Toronto Maple Leafs have picked up {shovelled into the barn} the one-year option for 2007-08 on the contract of General Manager John Ferguson, {who is still trying to fathom that the team is not in a pee-wee hockey league}. “We are excited about the direction {one out if 38 ain't bad} the Leafs have taken {still nowhere after 4 years}, on and off the ice, under the leadership of John Ferguson,” Peddie said. “When we signed {with crayons} John as general manager three years ago it was my hope and expectation that we’d be making this announcement today {because I fully support a man who makes no major moves to improve, and I love being in the newspaper}. “Prior to the lockout John created a strategic plan {to totally humilate and ruin Mr. Sundin's chance of ever winning a cup in Toronto} that would address a number of needs that our franchise had—principally {making sure that Leaf Fan 101 was tought everywhere without mercy inside a 75km range of Toronto} procuring and developing young talent, {letting Pat Q. hold disorganized practices} and operating a team under the parameters of a new collective bargaining agreement. We’ve begun to see the results of John’s plan [and are proudly still one of the slowest skating teams out there}, and picking up the option on the fourth year of his contract enables that progress to continue {John may play 2nd line center after the all star break}.” ...in jest... J

I've posted this before and I will post it again... The guy at NHL.com has got to be a leaf fan... :puke: Everypage is updated correctly, except... this... http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&am...e=StandingsPage and this... http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&am...season=20062007 and this... http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&am...season=20062007 Somehow Montreal (31 points) is behind Toronto (30 poins). At 9:45 eastern every other page on the site is correct except they still have Toronto ahead in the Division, Conference, and League standings. Every page shows the Habs having 3 games at hand and 31 points. ...this loser should skate with the leafs... If it sound a little harsh, good. :hlogo: Unless the league does something different that that they have done forever... what's up with that?

OK, as I mentioned in another post... :nono: ...the guy :zzz: who does the standings on nhl.com had the leafs ahead of Montreal again in the conference standings this morning after the habs win last night against Ottawa, (even though wins = and CH has 2 games at hand...) Why it would take hours to get this stat right all the time, I'll never know :?- . I guess it's wishful thinking, (kinda' like the ML's winning Lord Stanley's beer mug) :puke: . ..in all fairness, I know it takes time to update a site, but this endless repeat error equals tabloid reporting, maybe this guy thinks wrestling is real . Yesterday being halloween and all, I didn't even see the game against Ottawa, but get the impression that Montreals back half of most games seems pretty strong!!! Great work boys!!!

Well, I was long lost in the Toronto area (moved ther for over 10 years) and nearly died of all the "leafs" (sorry for the swearing) talk in TO. Never met a hockey fan there , just leaf fans .... To fix my hockey viewing ills with definitely no habs games televised on local cable, but StarChoice offered a bi-lingual package where the cbc feed from Montreal was the habs game + all the RDS stuff too :hlogo: ... I don't know if this still applies, but it was perfect "IV" while living in TO. Sure it rang in at about $75 a month but... I saw a lot of habs hockey. Every Saturday(cbc) and Wednesday(rds) where pretty much guaranteed. Hope this helps... On another note... It's good to be back in QC. ... now all i need is nhl.com to stop the sad and slow as molasis updates of positive habs info, or any other team for that matter... That's okay, the webmaster who takes care of the site updates must be a leaf fan... I kid not - at least 3 times last season, toronto standings were out of order... did anyone notice??? & ...it's so great to see the GM in toronto has a'blog', on the leaf site... I wonder if Bob Gainey chats on MSN all day? Enough leaf trashing... but the heart of the league is still RW&B.