Weighing In On Truculence

Much has been said this summer of Truculence. Leaf fans are excited at, for the first time in what seems like ages, baring witness to a team that will throw its weight around. Not since the Quinn era have we been exposed to a crash and bang Leafs squad that will punish the teams they face instead of trying to dance around 'em.
Many opposing fans have been calling thuggery and goonism on this new gaggle of Toronto Maple Leaf hockey players, phrases like "Gorillas on skates" and "team of lumbering dinosaurs" have been audible from the peanut gallery.
But is this the case? Has Brian to the Burke just pieced together a team of soccer hooligans?
Lets break it down, player by player.

Colton Orr - Yes, no denying it. Colton Orr is a goon. He gets paid to punch people in the face, and he does it well. What Colton Orr does posses, however, is an underated hockey ability and while he may not be tearing up the scoresheet or making game breaking plays he wont cripple the team when his gloves are on.
Truculent? Check. Goon? Check.

Mike Komisarek - A big, mean, physical dude of a hockey player. But a goon? Nay I say, nay. Komi is a defensive workhorse who is tough in his own end. He blocks and hits with the best of them and isnt affraid to drop the mitts should the need arise. He has proven that he isnt the most adept heavy weight as was exposed by one Milan Lucic, but he doesnt shy away from the rough stuff or lack the ability to start it when need be.
Truculent? Check. Goon? Nay

Francois Beauchemin - Brought in to replace the departed Pavel "hobobeard" Kubina. Like Kubina, he has a heavy shot, good offensive awarness and while his point totals are lower, Kubina wasnt stuck behind Neidermyer and Pronger on the PP. Unlike Kubina he uses his size well. Can clear the front of the net and will get dirty in the corners. He also posseses great character and leadership capabilities which Burke Covets. While he doesnt toss knuckles on a regular basis, he has been known to have pugelistic skill (just ask Jarome Iginla). A proven playoff performer with a solid skillset, possibly the best signing by Burke to date.
Truculent? Check. Goon? Hellz naw.

Garnett Exelby - A human seeking rocket of a player. Always on patrol for the highlight real bone cruncher, any player, any time, any zone he will take your head off. He also drops the gloves with semi-regularity and isnt all that bad at it. He doesnt fit the enforcer roll, but is often called to fight after one of his patented railroadings, but he isnt affraid to defend his team mates or get the crowd going. While not a traditional goon, he is close enough to fit the mold comfortably enough.
Truculent? Check? Goon? Close enough.

Jonas Gustavsson - Swedish elite league phenom, best goaltender outside the NHL last year, covoted by every team in the NHL without Luongo or Brodeur in their stables. Not one to throw the body or drop the gloves, but his name isnt Hextall or Emery so its not expected.
Truculent? Doesn't look like it. Goon? er....no.

Tyler Bozak - Hard nosed, speedy, excellent hockey sense. I will admit to not knowing to much about him. In all the highlights I've found on yonder interwebs, or in the Leafs Rookie tournament, while not overly physical he will go into traffic to make a play. I can't find one instance of a fight or big hit, but he certianly isnt affraid of body contact.
Truculent? Not overly. Goon? far from it.

Christian Hanson - Big fella, theres no doubt, but unlike his foil wearing father isnt much of a dancer. Much like Bozak, but with a lower skill set, he drives the net hard and uses his frame to make room for himself and line mates. He'll throw hits, but you'll rarly see them on sports center.
Truculent? It is in his blood, so it might be burried. Goon? Noper

Wayne Premieu - Career grinder nearing the end of his NHL days. A 4th line plugger who will toil in the corners and take his lumps.
Truculent? He tries to be. Goon? uh uh.

While none of these aquisitions are kitten soft (except maybe the Monster, but really does he have to be mike tyson?) Most posess a good amount of gritt and/ or sand paper. Orr and Exelby where brought in stricktly to terrorize opponents, but both will see limited ice time and be used in set peice situations.
The biggest movement by Burke seems to be the skill /truculent combo. Players that are effective not only at putting people on their ass but by either scoring or stopping pucks from going into the net.

Not that other fans are going to stop.

Truculence be with you

Best Case Scenario

Hey Y'all, you know what I like? I'm sure you have a general understanding as I tend to be blunt with such things, especially this one, I love me a good list.
Speaking of lists (segwaaaaaaaaay) here's a relevant one!

Things I want to see on draft day/ free agency, with detail

DO

- trade for the 5th over all pick from Atl for Kabby, Stajan/Grabovski/2nd round pick package
- Use 5th over all to draft Schenn 2.0 or Kane (whoever LA doesnt take)
- Use 7th over all to draft Cowen
- Trade Kubby + 3rd rounder to Florida for their 14th over all pick and a prospect
- Use 14th over all pick to draft Ryan Ellis, Zach Kassian or Carter Ashton (who ever is best left)
- Make a big play for Jay Bowmeister (if Kabby goes) for 5.5 mill for 4 years
- Make a play for Bauchemin for 3.75 Mill for 3 years
- Sign Travis Moen for 2-2.5 Mill for 3 years
- Sign the Monster for max allowed salary for 2 years
- Sign Grabovski (if not traded) for a MAXIMUM (and thats pushing it) 3 mill for 3 years.
- resign Pogge for a 2 year contract, remind him this is his last chance.
- put Remier on the Marlies, challange Pogge, dethrone him if necessary

DONT

- trade up for the top 3, will cost way too much
- trade Poni, he will have a break out season
- trade the vesa, he isnt as bad as people say, and his value can only go up
- trade down, there is too much tallent at 7 to let get away
- Make a ploy for Camallari, he will be too expensive
- Persue the Sedins, they may be elite point a game players, but down the road (especially 5+ years) they will be a liability of grandious perportions
- Make a move for Komeserik, douchebags need not apply.
- Give Pogge ANY NHL time (catastrophic injuries to both Leaf goalies excepted) until he earns it
- get off track with the rebuild, no matter what happens, don't rush it. We're building a dynasty here, not a one shot deal.

Token Insanity


CRAZY MONKEY APPLE PANTS!

As Things Sit

One of the things I like to sit and day dream about are line combinations. I find it soothing in a weird way. So how do I see the Leafs stacking up for next year? Well, its probably redundant to do such a thing before the draft, and and the opening of the trade market flood gates that it sometimes starts, but why the hell not. I'm bored and I need a new post.
Here she goes

Poni - Stajan - Blake = not much of a first line, but they will be serviceable for now
Kulemin - Grabbo - Hagman = I loved this lines chemistry, Id love to see it continue
Tlusty - Bozak - Stralberg = speed, size, good skill, if this line can get chemistry, look out
Mayers - J. Mtchell - Hanson = Hanson needs to work on his game a might, he could move up or down to the AHL if needed.

Kaberle - Kubina = good mix of everything
Schenn - VanRyn = Another good mix, Schenn kills things VanRyn stays healthy, one of those will happen
Finger -White = a decent shut down pair with some mustache/offensive flair

7th D-man - Frogren

Goaltending Tandum
Pogge - Toskala platoon = Really, its all we have (currently) why not?

odd men out - Oreskovic, Straleman, Stapleton, Didominico, Williams, and D. Mitchell.

With the exception of Dido, who's Injury very well could take him out for the whole season, any of these players could be substituted into , well pretty much any line short of the top two defensive pairings (baring VanRy's health). I don't take too much stock in these lines, and will update accodringly as things change. What be your suggestions?

Hey Look, A Title

Ok, I am not one for numbers, I'm not a huge fan of statistical analysis or anything like that, but lately (I.E since ever) I have been hearing some rumblings, mainly from fans of other Canadian teams about how consistently terrible the Leafs are, how they are the worst team ever yadda yadda yadda. I am sure most of you have also been subjected to it as well.
So this got me kinda curious. Who really is the best Canadian team? Who is the worst? This called for some digging I thought. So I devised a system. Totally ignoring the regular season, which will probably piss off Sens fans, I opted for a point system based only on how far each team made it in the playoffs. Each team got 1 point for making the playoffs, 2 for making it to the second round, 3 for making the conference finals, 4 for making the semi's and 5 for a cup win and of course nothing for not making the post.
For time frame, I went with the 1993 NHL playoffs because it was the first year all teams that play now existed to last year, because, well this playoff season isn't over yet.
This is how things stack up.

Leafs 3, 3, 1, 1, 0, 0, 3, 2, 2, 3, 1, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 21
Habs 5, 1, 0, 1, 1, 2, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 2, 0, 1, 0, 2 = 15
Sens 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 0, 2, 4, 1= 19
Flames 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 0, 1, 1, 1 = 11
Oilers 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 4, 0, 0 = 12
Nucks 2, 4, 2, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 1, 0, 0, 2, 0= 16

Interesting, very interesting. Look who is on top.
First off let me say how terrible the Flames have been since 93, sure they had that Cinderella run but other than that never made it out of the first round and missed the playoffs 8 times, 7 of those in a row.
The Oilers weren't much better, again a Cinderella run but only made it out of the first three times.
The Habs, even with their cup way back in 93 have been mediocre. Missing the playoffs 7 times with a 3 year drought but were at least able to make it out of the first 5 times including their cup.
The Canucks started decently, with their run to the finals in 94, but since have missed the playoffs 7 times with a 4 year absence.
The Sens, being an expansion team, understandably missed the playoffs a few times (four) int a row to start their NHL experience, got progressively better as they built up draft picks and prospects until their cup run 2 years ago.
The Leafs, while being the only team never to make the cup final made it to the conference final 4 times. They have also been terrible recently.

Totals including this years so far results are as follows
Leafs = 21
Habs = 16
Sens = 19
Flames = 12
Oilers = 12
Nucks = 16

The Canucks could catch and tie the Leafs IF they win the cup, and the Flames could jump to third.
This being a quick (1 hour) study, I don't expect this to swing the confidence of any rival fans out there, but it should give them something to chew on when they go on to say how much better their team has been than the Leafs.