12/21/24
March 05, 2003
Owen Nolan : was traded to the Leafs for Alyn McCauley, prospect Brad Boyes and a first round pick. Does this move Toronto to the top of the Eastern pile or do they still need a d-man to rise to those heights?
Two words. Damaged Goods(back). Or should I say damaged goons the way Roberts(shoulders, chicken neck), Tucker(suspended, beat up by Sens trainer), Domi(suspended, eyebrows impair vision and trys to beat up lady bing nominees, goof), Corson(mental issues) and the rest of the protein shake dorks conduct themselves out there, I guess Nolan can learn to hit from behind, take out knees and kick skates in fights by the best of 'em. I feel sorry for him having to play for a team that is never going to spend what it takes. They don't need to, the moronic fans keep watching that cheap garbage they are putting on the ice and even pretend to get excited about it. Get a grip. They are using you to sell beer. They are still 3 or 4 skilled players away from being competative in a conference final. At least he's not far from Detroit now.
Leafs. LOL.
posted by kremb at 01:18 AM on March 06, 2003
kremb ... LOL, so tell us what you really think!! I have to agree somewhat ... the macho posturing of the Leafs rings somewhat hollow when you get pasted 4-1. Given the pressure to win in Toronto, I don't think these guys have the mental toughness to do it, regardless of whether they now have the talent with the addition of Nolan.
posted by smithers at 01:29 AM on March 06, 2003
I feel sorry for him having to play for a team that is never going to spend what it takes. They don't need to, the moronic fans keep watching that cheap garbage they are putting on the ice and even pretend to get excited about it. Get a grip. They are using you to sell beer. Hey, we’re talking about Toronto, not Boston. You sure you’re not talking about Boston? Anyway, It’s hard to say this is anything but a great move by the Leafs. This gives them great balance up front, and frees up Hoglund to use in part of a deal to trade for one more solid D-guy to replace that useless Lumme character. I’ve no doubts that Toronto can compete with the Ottawas, New Jerseys, and Phillys of the NHL now. Replace Lumme and you’ve got a real cup contender. A few things about that Ottawa/Toronto game the other night: 1) Man, was that fun to watch. 2) Toronto may have lost, but they sent a real message to the Sens. How many guys did they hurt? If that was the first game of a seven games series, you can be sure that the Sens wouldn’t last long enough physically to win four games. The Sens still need more toughness to be able to compete in the playoffs. 3) Magnus Arvedson is very talented guy, but he’s a weenie.
posted by Samsonov14 at 11:37 AM on March 06, 2003
The game also proved that the Leafs can handle the Sens fine. 4-1 "pasting"? What game were you watching? When it was 5 on 5 (rarely), Ottawa failed to do anything. It took four two man advantages for them to score some goals. In the second period, there was a huge disparity in the penalty department... that took their momentum, and their flow away. No surprise they got a bit frustrated in the third. (and yes, Arvedson is a weenie. Plays with his stick, gives Domi a shove... and when Domi shoves back, he runs and hides his head in the sand. I'd say that the only reason Domi got suspended is because of reputation.) They are still 3 or 4 skilled players away from being competative in a conference final. In the playoffs, you don't get by with skill alone -- as the Sens have proved. Besides, Leafs have more than enough -- especially with Roberts back (despite your claiming that he's a goon... must be an Islanders fan). I'm upset that we had to give away McCauley, but I think this makes the team better in the end. I'm just wondering how the lines will be shifted around. Anyway, a good defenseman is indeed what the Leafs really need. Kaberle/Svehla/McCabe/Lumme are decent, but after that, the rest of the defensive core is a combined -18. (Kaberle alone is +18). Lumme is decent, though he has made a number of key mistakes lately, and would be good as a third string defenceman. But a strong, second string Stevens type D-man is what the Leafs really need.
posted by mkn at 12:45 PM on March 06, 2003
Get a grip. They are using you to sell beer. This is the reason I say that. I've never seen so many repetative beer comercials as I have during a Maple Leaf telecast (believe me, I've had to watch a few, way to many in the Ballard years). The tv ratings are huge, the ticket prices are scandalous, what are they waiting for?
posted by kremb at 04:23 PM on March 06, 2003
yup a brusier D, and we be rollin. magnus the weenie, i love that
posted by garfield at 04:33 PM on March 06, 2003
kremb: Did you realize that Stavros just sold his shares of the MLS? So it is under "new management", which may explain why Quinn was allowed to go after Nolan (a hefty salary for the next 3 years). To answer your question, it doesn't look like they are waiting for anything now. They've made their move.
posted by grum@work at 05:43 PM on March 06, 2003
Toronto may have lost, but they sent a real message to the Sens. How many guys did they hurt? None of the injuries were from rough play by Leafs. I thought they held their own pretty well, and all that without Chara, Volchenkov, and Varada (past the first period) in the lineup. Can't wait for the last game of the season... As for the trade, it was a good one, but it's do-or-die, put-up-or-shut-up, other-appropriate-cliche-here time for the Leafs. Many of their players are headed for the retirement home soon (Roberts, Nolan, Belfour, Lumme, Fitzgerald, hell, even Sundin), and they've just bet the farm -- or more specifically, their farm prospects -- on Nolan. If they don't win the cup before the old guys retire, it'll be another dark decade for the Buds before they build a contender again. And they still need at least one quality D-man. Probably more. Did you realize that Stavros just sold his shares What? Our very own Stavros the Wonder Chicken owns shares in the Mapl...oooh, you meant Stavro. ;-) (and yes, Arvedson is a weenie. Plays with his stick, gives Domi a shove... and when Domi shoves back, he runs and hides his head in the sand. I'd say that the only reason Domi got suspended is because of reputation.) Pff. After watching the replay of that entire shift a few hundred times, I didn't see anything particularly bad coming from Arvedson. Domi's just an enraged, coke-addled buffoon. Yes Arvie should have stood a little taller, but come on, the guy's never had a fight in his life...why would he be trying to pick one, with Tie Domi of all people? No respect for Domi from me, where there was none to be had anyway.
posted by Succa at 06:17 PM on March 06, 2003
Domi's just an enraged, coke-addled buffoon. Woah. You might just want to tone down the slander/libel just a bit. He's a buffoon, but don't suggest that he's "coke-addled". He's been nothing but a model citizen off the ice. Hate the player, but don't make up lies about him. And it's not like Nolan and Sundin are "headed for the retirement home soon". Nolan just turned 31 and Sundin just turned 32.
posted by grum@work at 07:07 PM on March 06, 2003
I live in Toronto, and I've heard my share of stories about Tie. My sources are questionable, as most are, so fair enough, I'll retract. As for Nolan, yes he's youngish, but that bad back isn't gonna hold up forever. He's got a handful of years left. Sundin, yeah, I threw him in as an extreme case, but my point is that the Leafs aren't exactly bursting with hot young prospects. Unless they make a run in the next few years I just don't see it happening in Hogtown for a while.
posted by Succa at 07:35 PM on March 06, 2003
I think this is a terrific move by the Leafs. Who wouldn't go out and acquire Owen Nolan, especially for what you had to give for the guy? Sure, he has a bad back and may be an old 31, but this and that long-awaited D-man means a legit shot at Lord Stanley. When oh when will my Blues step up and do something, ANYTHING?!? By the way ... and I think I've said this before ... an anagram of TIE DOMI is ME IDIOT. What a cementhead.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:44 PM on March 06, 2003
Sorry to snap at you Succa. I'm sure the original sources of those "stories" about Tie are the same ones that were sure Wendel Clark was gay and Al Iafrate slept with Gary Leeman's wife. And the Leafs ARE bursting with hot young prospects, and that's why they could deal Boyes and not suffer too much. At the world junior tournament, it was like a Maple Leaf tryout camp. They had 5(?) on the Canadian team alone, and had one good one on the Russian squad as well. I'm guessing we'll see a couple of them make the squad next year. I'm just glad they didn't deal Coliacovo(sp?) as he's their defenceman of the future. And I'm no apologist for what Tucker and Domi did. Pure stupidity, especially since the stories original printed in the papers (the spit and the "split") turned out to be non-issues.
posted by grum@work at 09:34 PM on March 06, 2003
Succa, grum is dead on. Toronto is bursting with young prospects. And this deal doesn't take much from their farm, especially considering that Boyes wasn’t the cream of their youthful crop. There’s Kaberle, Antropov, Tellqvist, Alex "PoneMan" Ponikarovsky, Carlo Colaiacovo, Alexander Steen, Matt Stajan, Jay Harrison, Ian White, Brendan Bell, and Kyle Wellwood to name a few. I'm a Rangers fan, so I know what mortgaging your future looks like and this isn't it. Frankly, I'm not sure how anyone can question a team for getting a guy like Nolan.
posted by 86 at 09:41 AM on March 07, 2003
I'm sure Verne approves of this trade, despite losing his productive linemate.
posted by garfield at 10:20 AM on March 07, 2003
By the way ... and I think I've said this before ... an anagram of TIE DOMI is ME IDIOT. What a cementhead. Well, I'm convinced. I think this trade was good for the franchise in the fact it shuts most of us whiney Leaf fans shut up about "Stand" Pat Quinn. I don't think we are anywhere near competing with Detroit or Colorado just yet. There are just too many grinder players on the team and not enough skilled scorers. Antropov is developping, but he's not there yet. Mogilny gets rubbed out by the tight checking in the playoffs because he really is the only fast sniper-type. Sundin is a great player, but not a "take over a game" type, like a Markus Naslund or Peter Forsberg are. I think they needed someone like Selanne or Palffy to give them more pure scoring talent. I like Nolan a lot nevertheless. He and Roberts will be entertaining to watch crashing the boards. Oh yeah, they need a big defenseman too. I'm tired of watching Anders Eriksson and Jurki Lumme forget they are playing hockey and not freeze tag.
posted by therev at 12:02 PM on March 08, 2003
Well, that was a pretty good debut for him as a Leaf. They only got the tie, but he got 2 goals.
posted by grum@work at 10:40 PM on March 08, 2003
Wesley is now a Leaf, too. So some D help is definitely coming. There still could be more.
posted by mkn at 07:34 PM on March 09, 2003
grum: Wendel Clark was gay What, Wendel Clark isn't gay anymore? grum: Al Iafrate slept with Gary Leeman's wife Must. Stop. Laughing. Washed up hockey stars vaudeville: the best there is! I'm sorry, grum, no disrespect meant. I'm impressed by your level of "fandom" towards the Leafs. I wish I could be as passionate about our Habs. The East being so weak, I guess the Leafs could squeak by to the finals this year. But my secret hope is for an Isles/Leafs rematch, where Michael Peca ends Darcy Tucker's career with a clean open-ice hit. Tucker and Marchment are the two players I despise the most in hockey today.
posted by qbert72 at 12:20 AM on March 10, 2003
What, Wendel Clark isn't gay anymore? Well, getting married and having a kid tends to dismiss those rumours pretty quickly, especially when there was no evidence of them in the first place. But my secret hope is for an Isles/Leafs rematch, where Michael Peca ends Darcy Tucker's career with a clean open-ice hit. Hey, I know that Tucker is a dirty player, but don't be so quick to put a halo over Peca's head. (from earlier in the season) "Recently, Peca was involved in another controversial hit. This time, he's being accused of not being the bigger person at all and going after Ottawa Zdeno Chara's knee in a game last week. Chara was not seriously injured, but many accused Peca of doing exactly what he has spoken out against since Tucker went low on him." I wish I could be as passionate about our Habs. Well, obviously since they are losing a lot of games, it must be time to jump OFF that bandwagon. After all, it's a Montreal tradition in sports. :)
posted by grum@work at 07:01 AM on March 10, 2003
grum: it must be time to jump OFF that bandwagon. After all, it's a Montreal tradition in sports. Oh, you're so right about this. Of course, I stopped following hockey when they named Réjean Houle as GM, which is reason enough, I believe. And I've been rooting for the Expos forever. I certainly don't think Peca is a saint. But he can lay a mighty good "Keep your head up!" open-ice check, for such a little guy. Something I have yet to see Tucker do.
posted by qbert72 at 02:01 AM on March 11, 2003
oh, and while I'm at it: there was no evidence of them in the first place Wasn't the mustache enough evidence? ;-)
posted by qbert72 at 02:08 AM on March 11, 2003
Holy cow! I step away from computers/TV/radio for a night and this is what I see when I come back. This is huge (as a Leaf fan). Not because I think that Nolan will lead us to the promise land (the Stanley Cup, not just beating Ottawa again), but because it says "You've got no excuses." to the rest of the team. The fans will have to shut up about Quinn not getting the "big player" every year. This is definitely the "put up or shut up" moment for the Leafs. The Leafs have always been reluctant to make these deals the last 3 years, so I'm surprised they stepped up to do this one. Nolan will be a great addition to the team, but an even better "non-addition" to the Flyers (or other teams). Wow.