Official 11-12 NHL Regular Season Thread

[philou21]

They will be be an interesting team to follow this year. I like to joke about the Leafs but in my predictions I've putted them in the playoffs. Just maybe at the 8th spot, if they don't make the playoffs they will be 9th or 10th maybe.

[batdad]

Montreal and Toronto? Both in the playoffs? Come on philou....

The only thing less likely than that is that Ottawa makes the playoffs.....oh wait...


guys I can hear him..>Philou is chanting "GO HABS GO" alternating that with screams of "OH no..the Senators are going to keep my bleu blanc et rouge belles out of the playoffs!!! NOOOOOOO DIE SPEZZA DIE!"

[philou21]

I never said that MTL will make the playoffs, again your imagination is tricking you Batdad. I really don't see MTL in the playoffs this year, I've said it before the season even started. I see the Leafs ahead of them easily. If MTL make the after-season it will be because of their goalie, again.

[batdad]

Just admit how much it pains you and how you will cry if the precious habitants do not make the playoffs and the laughs do.

[philou21]

Pain? More like fun to laugh at a couple of my friends who wish the Habs will win the Cup every year.

[batdad]

Dude, the first stage of acceptance is denial. You have been in that stage for awhile...time to move to round two.

[philou21]

Yeah, yeah continu Batdad you are worse than me to still harassing me with that.

[batdad]

Not just me....there are millions and millions who know your true colors.

[philou21]

I guess it's because we are posting this on internet right? You're probably right but I don't care about others opinions.

[batdad]

Nah..if you are ever in Vancouver give me a shout...we will go and buy you some souvenirs from one of the hockey card store owning Habs fans out here.

Pronger--Hate the guy, but man...he is one lucky dude with that eye.

[philou21]

You seriously think I'll ruin a good stay in Vcr by calling you? Keep dreaming.

[batdad]

Phew. Thank god.

[philou21]

Hey by the way, the Laffs won again.

[Loosie]

Hey by the way, the Laffs won again.

And they're first overall in the NHL

[Big T]

Well before we crown the Leafs as a playoff team lets consider that they have played 8 out of the 13 games against teams that did not make the playoffs last season and have been outscored 17-15 in the games they played against teams that made the playoffs last season....

It will be interesting to see how they do once they get past their "charmed" part of their schedule this season.

[CeeBee]

Seems to me the leafs started out pretty good last year too. I'll wait till after Christmas to proclaim them playoff contenders.

[philou21]

First NHL hat-trick for Tyler Seguin!

[archibalduk]

First NHL hat-trick for Tyler Seguin!

Yeah, he's really stepping up this season. It's not been that much fun watching some of the Bruins games this season. Hopefully with the wins against Ottawa and Toronto we can turn things around. There's only four points separating the bottom of the Conference from the top eight and so if we can get a decent run of wins going we should get out of there quite quickly.

Hopefully the landslide win will bring the Laffs back down to earth!

[philou21]

We'll see about that! I'm sure the Bruins will get back on track quick, the beginning of their season is awful for sure, I was surprised by that.

[Manimal]

I wasn't really surprised by the Bruins start. I see it everywhere in lots of leagues and lots of sports.
Last year's champions often start the season slow. A kind of fullness, I think. They just won and are not as hungry in October
The Bruins are too good not to turn this around, though

[batdad]

Bruins, Canucks, Blue Jackets, Leafs, Rangers, Kings, Dead Things, Habs, Flame, Caps, Canes all suck. My new favorite teams....Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres.

[philou21]

Well the Caps are not that bad. Canes suck but Skinner is still on fire! Edmonton though, wow, those young guys are awesome. Hall, Eberle and Hopkins what a trio! Imagine them in 2 or 3 years. And maybe Paajarvi, with an awful season beginning, will blow too.

[batdad]

Psst hey guys...notice Philou did not agree that the Habs suck?

[Loosie]

As a Leafs fan I am still cautisouly optomistic about this season. The prolonged Reimer injury has me worried though that he may have a concussion and that he might not be the same when he return. If the Leafs can be guarenteed of scoring 4 or more goals every game that I'm ok with Gustavsson in net. Our D-men though have been leaving the goalies hung out to dry though. Scrivens was pretty good against Columbus, but frankly I'm shocked that Wilson put him in against Boston. This team HAS to stop turning the puck over so much.

The other thing that annoys me is people who claim that we've beaten weaker teams and therefore aren't worthy of our lofty status. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it still two points for a win if it's Columbus or if it's Washington? Yes I know the Leafs have yet to beat Boston this year, and both games have been bad...really bad. And the other two teams we've lost to are Philly (4-2) and Ottawa (3-2), which both suffered from bad defence breakdowns. But we still have the 19 points we currently have, they aren't any less valuble than 19 points against 'last year's playoff teams.' And hey...we beat the Pens. so that should apperently count for something.

One other thing too, the Leafs haven't actually had thier full lime-up play yet. Conolloy missed the first few games, and is out again, Armstrong has been out for a bit, as has Reimer. (This is the big difference right there, although he would have been no help against Boston)


EDIT: BTW 7 of the Pens 9 wins were also against non-playoff teams from last year.

[batdad]

Loosie..the Leafs are better. But they are still at best a barely make the playoff team. They have no semblance of a #1 center. Phil Kessel is just a guy leading the league right now...he will tail off. Every year there is someone who starts out on fire who has no business being there. Kessel is a decent player and scorer...but he is not the lead the league good. Without that..Toronto goes nowhere. They are not the team that got hammered 7-0 by Boston, but they are most certainly not the team that had been 1st in the East til that point. Even with Reimer--a guy who is totally unproven and came out of the gates fast (not withstanding his exposure last season) this team is barely..if they even are...a playoff team.

No team that counts Connolly,Grabovsky and Bozek as their top 3 centres has a hope. They just don't. Too soft.

On d--Yep they have Phaneuf...a guy out to prove something. But after him...nothing really. And yes..>Luke Schenn...nothing. Carl Gunnarson ... nothing. Cody Franson...nothing. They are just young guys who may some day be something...but are not worthy yet. And of course they still have that overpaid donut head on the blue line (Name starts with K).

Leafs had a good start last season too, and look what happened.

BTW--How about Seguin coming in and lighting it up against the team that should have got him in the draft. Leafs would be way better off with him, Hamilton and whatever than they will be with the one ball man.

A win is a win. Sure. Got to win games to get points. Some idjits may be chirping that...but fact remains the guys up front on the Leafs are not enough to get the job done over the long haul. Grabovsky is in and out, McArthur in and out.

None of the top 6 on Toronto is as good as the top 6 on most teams. They just are not. The top 4 Dmen--same thing. Some are just good prospects figuring their way into the league and will one day be real good players. Leafs have a decent future (maybe) should Reimer and Gustaffson pan out. Not sure they will....there was time when everyone on the planet thought Steve Mason was the next Patrick Roy. Reimer is the next Mike Palmateer, a guy leaf Fans love...but not a guy who is going to win a cup.