The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Although Hawks probably has the 6th seed wrapped up(or not since Nashville and Detroit is struggling) I would love them to fall to the 7th seed and face Vancouver. That's just me though

*adds Kobalt to list of enemies*

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

*adds Kobalt to list of enemies*

You know you'll enjoy that series I know I would.

Also, my preseason Stanley Cup prediction looking real good right now. San Jose over Tampa Bay

[SidVish]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Speaking about Vancouver-Chicago. It's on tonight.

I wouldn't mind seeing them duke it out in the playoffs. It's always fun.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Speaking about Vancouver-Chicago. It's on tonight.

I wouldn't mind seeing them duke it out in the playoffs. It's always fun.

Vancouver fans' thoughts on that:

[Perceptor]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Hawks are looking better although they do need Toews back healthy. That would be the only thing. They have been scoring early and often and Crawford looks like he found his game again

Leafs are even worse with Carlyle than Wilson.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

What are the chances Brian Burke gets the boot if the Leafs keep spiraling further down (as if they haven't spiraled far enough)?

I'm guessing the chances are slim with his seat being extremely hot going into next season, but personally I don't think Burke deserves a lot of the criticism being thrown his way. That's not to say he should be free from any criticism. It's just that the Leafs were a mess when Burke was first hired to rebuild the team, and sure, you could argue they still are a mess, but at least they're a mess with some sort of direction. Remember how bare the cupboard was before Burke took over? Now they actually have assets and a good pool of young players developing.

The Kessel trade is obviously going to be the defining moment of the Brian Burke era in Toronto. Here's the thing though: Kessel has been one of the better players in the league this season. As bad as it was to lose out on a possible franchise player like Tyler Seguin, that trade could have been a hell of a lot worse had Kessel not been producing the way he has, so it wasn't a complete bust of a deal IMO. After all, Kessel is in the top 5 for both goals and points.

Anyways, as much as it sucks for Leafs fans, players, and the organization to miss out on the playoffs again, I think it'd be a huge mistake to cut ties with Burke any time soon. Unless of course next season is just a complete Columbus-style disaster.

[SidVish]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

I love Steve Mason. Give this man some more interview time!

They lost 5-1 and he busts out this gem.

"I don't even consider this a bad game," said Mason, who is likely the Jackets' main option after Curtis Sanford's leg injury will likely cost him the remaining nine games. "I don't know if you saw the goals out there, but aside from the second [one] there's not much you can do."

According to Mason losing by 4 goals is not a bad game.

[SidVish]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie

Draft lottery update, % chance to get No. 1 pick: CBJ (48.2), EDM (18.8), MTL (14.2), MIN (10.7), NYI (8.1). TB and TOR knocking on door.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Watch Columbus not even get the 1st pick.

[SidVish]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Luongo is in goal tonight.

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

I'm not so sure now.

Seriously, though, I hate totally outplaying someone and losing.

The whole "get an easy first round opponent" thing is overblown anyway. How many times have we seen the "better" team get beat in the first round? Plus, if your team is a championship-calibur team, you're going to have to get through the Boston's, New York's, and Pittsburgh's (not to mention a Detroit, Vancouver, or whoever comes out of the West) to win it all. Maybe winning a series is a big deal for some franchise's, but for the Flyers, it's Cup or bust.

Bring on whoever.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

The whole "get an easy first round opponent" thing is overblown anyway. How many times have we seen the "better" team get beat in the first round? Plus, if your team is a championship-calibur team, you're going to have to get through the Boston's, New York's, and Pittsburgh's (not to mention a Detroit, Vancouver, or whoever comes out of the West) to win it all. Maybe winning a series is a big deal for some franchise's, but for the Flyers, it's Cup or bust.

Bring on whoever.

Yep. Remember Montreal taking out Washington and Pittsburgh? Edmonton taking out Detroit? There are no easy opponents in the playoffs.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Yep. Remember Montreal taking out Washington and Montreal? Edmonton taking out Detroit? There are no easy opponents in the playoffs.

Only Montreal could do this without anyone batting an eye.

[SidVish]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Montreal taking out Montreal was unbelievable!

[Perceptor]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

What are the chances Brian Burke gets the boot if the Leafs keep spiraling further down (as if they haven't spiraled far enough)?

I'm guessing the chances are slim with his seat being extremely hot going into next season, but personally I don't think Burke deserves a lot of the criticism being thrown his way. That's not to say he should be free from any criticism. It's just that the Leafs were a mess when Burke was first hired to rebuild the team, and sure, you could argue they still are a mess, but at least they're a mess with some sort of direction. Remember how bare the cupboard was before Burke took over? Now they actually have assets and a good pool of young players developing.

The Kessel trade is obviously going to be the defining moment of the Brian Burke era in Toronto. Here's the thing though: Kessel has been one of the better players in the league this season. As bad as it was to lose out on a possible franchise player like Tyler Seguin, that trade could have been a hell of a lot worse had Kessel not been producing the way he has, so it wasn't a complete bust of a deal IMO. After all, Kessel is in the top 5 for both goals and points.

Anyways, as much as it sucks for Leafs fans, players, and the organization to miss out on the playoffs again, I think it'd be a huge mistake to cut ties with Burke any time soon. Unless of course next season is just a complete Columbus-style disaster.

I agree that Burke's reign hasn't been completely negative. There is better organizational depth and prospect pool. The problem is that he overestimated this team. They aren't a play-off team. He should have realized this at the deadline and moved some of his vets for picks. We knew he received 1st rounders and he would have been wise to take them. Now, he's got a flawed team with a mish mash of talented, yet inconsistent players.

Kessel's good, but he's soft. Phaneuf is overrated. He doesn't read the play very well and his hockey IQ is lacking. Reimer and Jonas aren't #1 goalies and Connolly's best days are behind him.