NHL 2009/2010

**tmlfan123** · 11-24-2009, 09:06 AM

I said I wasn't going to complain about the Leafs... so I won't... but I do think you should check out the shots for and against in the game against the Islanders last night.

**Skeeter** · 11-24-2009, 03:55 PM

Again, the major issue is that the Leafs get a lot of shots, but they're not quality shots. They don't have enough players with accurate shots that can finish. Kessel and Blake certainly can, but things get questionable after them. Grabovski has his moments, as does Stajan, but most of their shots are low-quality.

**tmlfan123** · 11-25-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeeter

Again, the major issue is that the Leafs get a lot of shots, but they're not quality shots. They don't have enough players with accurate shots that can finish. Kessel and Blake certainly can, but things get questionable after them. Grabovski has his moments, as does Stajan, but most of their shots are low-quality.

Certainly most of the time, but not on Monday. Roloson made half-a-dozen highlight reel stops.

EDIT:

Want a laugh? Check out Hayley Wickenheiser vs. Dion Phaneuf's little brother.

earlessdog · 11-25-2009, 12:23 PM

Thats hilarious! Though I greatly dislike Dion Phanuef, probably his little brother too. I'd have to see more of him playing.

**tmlfan123** · 11-25-2009, 01:30 PM

I love Dion Phaneuf. Call him dirty or whatever you want, but the guy is Chris Pronger re-incarnated, maybe a little less dirty. He instills fear in opposing forwards. That is, all forwards except for Alexei Ponikarovsky.

**tmlfan123** · 11-26-2009, 10:26 AM

Big win for the Leafs last night, hanging four goals on the red-hot Antero Niittymaki. Stajan got the winner

And Niklas Hagman scored twice to run his total to eleven on the year - he's been fantastic over the past week and seems to be elevating the second line's production nicely.

**Skeeter** · 11-26-2009, 08:12 PM

Personally, I think Phaneuf is the most overrated defenceman in the NHL.

dtaylorl · 11-26-2009, 08:18 PM

As a Flames fan I am still a pretty big Phaneuf supporter. I think that is saying something for a Calgarian, as alot of the locals see some of his faults and put them in a pretty big spotlight. While the rest of the league probably does overrate him, I'm not sure that's the case here. He's not as good as he probably should be or as he was a few years ago... I wonder if his development has been stalled by being given too big of a role too fast. I'm hopeful, however, that we will see some growth in him in the near future.

monkeysmile · 11-29-2009, 08:14 PM

Wild with back to back wins over Colorado this weekend. Hopefully they can get some injured players back and continue to play well.

***Art*** · 11-30-2009, 12:36 AM

Sharks beat the Oilers and Canucks on the road in the last three days... I am really happy with the way they are playing.

earlessdog · 11-30-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeeter

Personally, I think Phaneuf is the most overrated defenceman in the NHL.

Wanna go out?

Seriously, I can't agree with you more, and it seems everytime I bring it up I get shot down. Sure, he isn't a terrible defenceman, but he is far overrated. And same with his "big tough guy" label, he can make big hits, but when push comes to shove, he'll usually skate away. I've seen it several times, he's being the tough guy and when a tougher guy wants to fight, he chickens out.

**Skeeter** · 11-30-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earlessdog

Wanna go out?

Seriously, I can't agree with you more, and it seems everytime I bring it up I get shot down. Sure, he isn't a terrible defenceman, but he is far overrated. And same with his "big tough guy" label, he can make big hits, but when push comes to shove, he'll usually skate away. I've seen it several times, he's being the tough guy and when a tougher guy wants to fight, he chickens out.

Bingo. He can't back up his actions on the ice.

Frustrating loss to the Sharks last night. A bad second period and a brief lapse in the third lost them the game. Also, it looks like Henrik Sedin is back to ignoring obvious shooting opportunities to make the pretty pass. I was hoping his time without his brother would break him of that habit. Shoot the puck!

**tmlfan123** · 11-30-2009, 12:49 PM

I have to disagree. Phaneuf is not a good fighter, and perhaps he's realized that by now, but you can't ignore his stats. His averages over the last four years are:

GP: 80.75
G: 16.25
A: 35.25
P: 51.5
+/-: +4
PIM: 118.25
TOI: 25:06

These stats make a clear case for him to be among the top-10, if not the top-5 defensemen in the league. It sounds like you guys just don't like him(which is totally understandable). As for skating away from fights, the Detroit Red Wings won a Cup and went to Finals last year by making an everyday practice of that.

Leafs have won 3 straight.

dtaylorl · 11-30-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmlfan123

As for skating away from fights, the Detroit Red Wings won a Cup and went to Finals last year by making an everyday practice of that.

Exactly, sometimes walking a way from a fight just makes sense and is good discipline. I'm not going to pretend this is always the case with Phaneuf, but I have seen occasions where he just walks away and the other team is penalized. Quite honesty, there are times when I wish he would do it more.

**tmlfan123** · 12-01-2009, 07:39 AM

Three hot goalies in a row was one too many for the Leafs - Ryan Miller pitched a shutout. At least I started him on my fantasy team