The Official Dave Ayres CC "All Thing Leaves" thread

[Rocky Dennis]

Your predictions have been laughable thus far so I am not listening to you.

You?! You just said this? You are a god damn laugh riot, man.

The leaves are now officially in a playoff spot.

AT this point in time, so are the Canucks. What's your point man? Lots of hockey left to play ding-dong.

[Rocky Dennis]

Where is Vancouver going exactly?

Well if we use your logic that the season apparently ends today - the Canucks are going to same place the leaves are: the playoffs. And in the much tougher Western Conference might I add.

[rats19]

Atta boy rock.....

[Rocky Dennis]

Are you really going to pretend they're a bad team and not getting better?

What I am seeing thus far this season, reminds me of Calgary of a few seasons ago except the leaves are blowing leads rather than coming from behind all the time like that Flames team did. Anyways, just using the eye test and not looking at any analytics, both seem to boil down to teams scoring their way out of trouble and overcoming deficiencies in defence and goaltending. Many would argue that the Flames D corps is far superior to what the leaves have. Anyways, before you go blowing out more hot air, you might want to keep in mind that this particular Flames team, with all those hot dog youngsters, missed the playoffs the following year and are struggling on the cusp of the playoff cutoff this year. There might be a lesson there for you if you aren't to obtuse to see it because you sound just like those Calgary fans who were guilty of spouting nothing but sunshine and roses for the Flames' future but then got slapped in the face with a dose of reality. Because most times, sooner or later, those deficiencies in D and goaltending catch up with you if you don't address them.

[BigTuna]

Where is Vancouver going exactly?

Well if we use your logic that the season apparently ends today - the Canucks are going to same place the leaves are: the playoffs. And in the much tougher Western Conference might I add.

The East is clearly the tougher conference this year.There's no division close to the metro.

[Strangelove]

Morgan Rielly is the #1 D-Man on a playoff team

I am wrong? *Checks Standings*. Nope, I'm right!

It's funny because:

1). No team is a "playoff team" unless they actually qualify for the playoffs at the end of the season.

2). You vehemently stated 3 months ago that your Leaves would-not/should-not make the playoffs (#rebuild).

3). 99% of Leafers believe Rielly is not... and never will be... what is known as "a Number One D-man".

4). If Rielly is your best D-man going into the playoffs you are auto-doomed to lose 4 straight.

So there you see, such a short sentence and yet so hilarious in oh so many ways!

[BigTuna]

Morgan Rielly is the #1 D-Man on a playoff team

I am wrong? *Checks Standings*. Nope, I'm right!

It's funny because:

1). No team is a "playoff team" unless they actually qualify for the playoffs at the end of the season.

2). You vehemently stated 3 months ago that your Leaves would-not/should-not make the playoffs (#rebuild).

3). 99% of Leafers believe Rielly is not... and never will be... what is known as "a Number One D-man".

4). If Rielly is your best D-man going into the playoffs you are auto-doomed to lose 4 straight.

So there you see, such a short sentence and yet so hilarious in oh so many ways!

I thought the leaves would not make the playoffs, yes. But I also thought they would be improved. The draft is terrible in 2017 so I don't think it's a year to hope for a top pick.
99%? LOL. Can I see how you got those stats.

[Strangelove]

^ Watching Mr Andersen right now, I think he wants Leaves to land a top pick in June.

A few months ago you were all gung-ho about your Leaves landing a top pick in June...

[BigTuna]

Did you watch "Bust" Mitch Marner? He now has a better PPG than Patrick Laine.
Matthews and Marner are 19. Superstar 1-2 punch for years to come. You guys would flip if you had those 2.

[Blob Mckenzie]

The draft is not terrible in 2017. It's a lot like the 2014 draft. It's definitely not as good as 2013, 2015 or 2016, I'll grant you that.

I kinda have to agree with Teena though about the East being a better conference this season. The West is full of marshmallow teams this year. That's why the Canucks are still in it. It only took 25 years though. The West has been superior since the Islanders dynasty. The way the Alberta teams and Winnipeg are building up I'd expect the West to rebound and soon. Minny is a hot young team. It'd be nice if the Canucks can land a top 3 pick or two and join them in a few seasons.

[BigTuna]

People just say the West because it's been that way for so long. All the stats show the East is definitely tougher. The Metropolitan division is crazy good this year.

[Strangelove]

Did you watch "Bust" Mitch Marner? He now has a better PPG than Patrick Laine.
Matthews and Marner are 19. Superstar 1-2 punch for years to come. You guys would flip if you had those 2.

These days I honestly cheer for Matthews and Marner to put up huge points.

Why?

Partially because bonuses will cost the Leaves precious cap-space next year

... but mostly because if they keep this pace up they will get $14M each in 2.5 years.

(this will decrease the Leaves chances of going anywhere right at the point they might be a good team)

I also cheer for JVR to break all those little bones in his left foot (for the 3rd time)

... and Nylander to get a concussion (for the third time)...

so as to decrease the chances of the Leaves acquiring the RS D-man they so badly need in a trade.

(also want Zaitsev to miss a few games so that he becomes a Group 6 UFA this summer)

BUT... I would prefer the Leaves continue with their INSANELY LUCKY run of good health this season.

(this way they'll get their hopes up and not trade vets at the deadline for picks)

So yeah, I'm a little conflicted about exactly WHEN I want JVR and Nylander to go down

... but I suppose could be talked into NOW.

[Topper]

Curtis McElhinney picked off waivers.

Lou - “We felt that he could support Freddie and take some quality time away from Freddie and still give us an opportunity to have our two young goaltenders develop.”

LOL, Curtis has been a failed backup at every stop along his back road career.

[BigTuna]

Did you watch "Bust" Mitch Marner? He now has a better PPG than Patrick Laine.
Matthews and Marner are 19. Superstar 1-2 punch for years to come. You guys would flip if you had those 2.

These days I honestly cheer for Matthews and Marner to put up huge points.

Why?

Partially because bonuses will cost the Leaves precious cap-space next year

... but mostly because if they keep this pace up they will get $14M each in 2.5 years.

(this will decrease the Leaves chances of going anywhere right at the point they might be a good team)

I also cheer for JVR to break all those little bones in his left foot (for the 3rd time)

... and Nylander to get a concussion (for the third time)...

so as to decrease the chances of the Leaves acquiring the RS D-man they so badly need in a trade.

(also want Zaitsev to miss a few games so that he becomes a Group 6 UFA this summer)

BUT... I would prefer the Leaves continue with their INSANELY LUCKY run of good health this season.

(this way they'll get their hopes up and not trade vets at the deadline for picks)

So yeah, I'm a little conflicted about exactly WHEN I want JVR and Nylander to go down

... but I suppose could be talked into NOW.

I like how somehow you think the leaves will be the only team not able to sign their young players.
The leaves have set themselves up nicely. 4.5 million for Kadri, 5 million for Rielly. All through their prime years. Great start @ cap management.

[Strangelove]

I like how somehow you think the leaves will be the only team not able to sign their young players.
The leaves have set themselves up nicely. 4.5 million for Kadri, 5 million for Rielly. All through their prime years. Great start @ cap management.

Is this your way of admitting Mr Andersen is overpaid?

Six years is alotta term for a Nazi 'Party Animal' Kadri.

(won't be long now...)

Rielly's contract might turn out to be okay for your Leaves.

Horton is on the books for 4 more years @ $5.3M.

(put him on LTIR and all bonuses to young players are applied to the following season's cap)

Same deal with Lupul's $5.25M this year and next.

Signing Martin this past summer to $2.5 X 4 years was dumb.

Leaves will be paying $1.2M of Kessel's salary for another 6 years.

Next year, for not playing with the team, Gleason gets $1.33M and Cowen gets $750K.

All of that counting towards the cap.

But hey if you're happy, that's the main thing!