Sigh

Where do I begin?

The Leafs are broken and need to be fixed, that sounds about right. But (begin bitching) I am kinda getting sick of fans from other teams telling me that like I don't know it. I am a Leafs fan, not mentally unsound (I am also aware how easy that joke is to make). Also to any Habs fans out there, what are you yipping about? Yes the Buds didn't make the playoffs, but guess what? Neither did the Habs, and I think I remember what team drove home the nail in your coffin. It may not be a playoff birth, but it is a nice little silver lining.

But enough of being bitter, getting assulted from all sides for two days can make one a bit testy.
Lets get down to bidness.

The Leafs have two major problems, one evident and widly agreed upon, the other, not so much.

Number one. Goaltending. I backed Raycroft all season, I defended him and all that jazz. Now I feel somewhat betrayed. The thing is, I know Raycroft is a skilled goaltender, it has just become evident that he isn't a good goaltender. Atleast not yet. I also doubt Raycroft will be going anywhere due to his undesireability and the blatent holes in his game. My solution? Go after a new number one, drop Aubin to the minors(or use him as spare parts in a trade for said new number one) and demote Raycroft to backup. Maybe the competition will up Raycrofts game, or at the very least, I know Raycroft has a good solid game every 10 or so, perfect for a backup.
Is Lethonin still available? Legace? Giger?

Problem number two. Scoring. Yes, we heard all about the Leafs depth on scoring this year, secondary scoreing this, offensivly tallented defense that. Sure, whatever, that is nice and all but guess what the Leafs don't have? A pure goal scorer, a sniper, someone who averaged a goal every two games. Now I can guess that because of the last incident attempt at getting one (IE Alexander Mogilny) may have lest a poor taste in the mouth of the Leafs brass, but guess what, in this new NHL a pure goal scorer Isn't just a nice conveniance anymore. It has become a necessity. With all the other teams having firepower like Brier, Heatly, Ovechkin, Hossa, Kovalchuck etc etc etc, you think someone representing blue and white would go "Hey, why don't we get someone like that?"
The offseason gives us a plethera of options in that regard. My solution, pick one up, pick anyone up. Does it matter if said player fits perfectly into the 'team frame'? No, While a Ryan Smyth would fit the present Leaf architecture perfectly, I am hoping that there is some massive remodling and next year, said architecture is a better, more inviting fit to a Brier or Drury (god it pains me to use Buffaslug and Islander players as examples).

That is all, I don't want this to be a Novel.
Next episode, what ISN'T broken in Leaf land, and the few bright spots.

End Of The Line

Well the end is here. No post season for the Leafs.
Dissapointment and sighs fill the air in my household.

The year of woulda shoulda coulda is over.

Luckily I am too full of turkey to be a hyperactive pisspot of ranting lunacy (for your daily dose please do visite habsblog).

Come back tomarrow for a break down of the woes of Leaf nation, plus my own recipie for success next season.

The Beginning Of The End...

Of the season.
Fact. The Islanders won today, putting them in a tie for the 8th and final spot
Fact. Toronto needs to win this one no matter what, in regulation.
Fact. Montreal needs one point to guarentee elimination of the Leafs.
Fact. The Leafs will pull Raycroft it it is tied going down to the wire in the third.
Fact. I hate the Montreal Canadians and would ponder a killing spree if they eliminate the Leafs.
Fact. No matter what happens tonight, it may not matter if Brodeur Isn't playing his A game tomarrow (or at all for that matter).

Rumour Good. Huet is in net after playing only 20 minuites since his hamstring snapped

Hope. Sundin is in a slump, he also scores huge goals, has a penchant for them one might say, and they wouldnt get any bigger than tonight.

See you all tomarrow, unless my heart gives out somewhere around the end of the third.

It really couldn't get any more dramatic than this.

Down To The Wire

As I write this, the Leafs VS Islanders game isn't over, but it is over.
It will come down to Saturday VS the Habs at the ACC, which must be won in regulation. Then hoping for the Islanders to loose one of their remaining two.

I don't know if my heart can take it.

DDD = A Beutiful Thing

Well that was rather scary. The boys in blue seem to be doing what they can to create a small cardiac explosion in my chest. But I digress.

Goals from Mutt and Jeff and Super Salary McCabe and suddenly 7 Mill a year dosn't hurt so bad.

Yet those dastardly Habs also beet the hapless (IE useless) Bruins, building up that ominious Saturday meeting at the ACC even more, like my heart needs that.

Hat Trick

It is amazing how polerizing a peice of cloth worn on the head can be. I just recently purchased a brand spanking new Maple Leaf hat and have been wearing it quite often recently (I do not often wear hats per say) and have had several interesting encounters with it. It seems that with many people the Leaf on the front of the hat is like a magnet to the eyes. I have also noticed people treating me different, one girl at the healthfood store I always go to has been extra friendly since I started wearing the hat, but the guy at the gym who checks your ID card has been extra curt to me when I wear the hat (note, I have seen him wearing a Habs shirt a couple times).

In the week since the purchase of said hat, I have noticed only a 20% possitive response from it, the other 80% is split evenly between assumed fans of other teams and Leaf fans who say such things as "You're gonna jinx em by wearing that" or "after last game, I'd be embarassed to wear that" and I find this troubling, because there is few things that bug me as much as a fair weather fan. Support your team all the time. That dosn't mean blindly stating they will win the cup, or ignoring obvious problems with the players, coaches or organization as a whole. It just means be a fan, be proud of your colours. In other words, don't be a Habs fan.

...But Not Out...Yet

Well that sucked.