Leafs, Coaching, Tank Nation and McDavid

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Leafs - A much needed win for the Leafs depending on what side of the fence you're on. The Leafs win in 4-3 in OT against the Winnipeg Jets. Kadri and Winnik has big nights and JVR broke a scoring slump. Leo Komarov put a rocket past Hutchinson and the offense came alive last night to earn the Leafs 2 points.

Coaching -

per The Leafs Nation quoting Damien Cox - Mike Babcock and his future in Detroit has kind of gone under the radar for a while now, which is probably exactly how (Red Wings general manager) Ken Holland would like it. But this we know: the Edmonton Oilers this week said they're not going to take the interim tag off of Todd Nelson, even though his record is pretty good. Toronto, of course, also has an interim head coach and we know that job may be open.

I think what's going to be interesting is that both of those teams, and others, won't make any decision on a permanent head coach until they know what's happening with Mike Babcock.

What we see here is pure speculation. You have two struggling teams in Edmonton and Toronto. Both as mentioned are using the interim tag since firing the their head coaches. Nelson is 10-12-3 so far in Edmonton which according to Cox is pretty good...... . The Oilers are looking better but a sub .500 record is hardly worth commitment.

In Toronto Peter Horachek is 3-15-2. Without question he's not going to be the head coach in Toronto.

To suggest these teams are going all in on Babcock on the basis that they have interim coaches is ridiculous and unfounded. Mike Babcock is sure to test the waters but make no mistake his players in Detroit are showing him they can compete and the playoff performance of the Detroit Red Wings will go far in determining if Babcock comes back.  With the leverage of being a highly sought after coach we already know Mike Babcock is going to cash in big. With a brand new arena on the way the way the team has battled for him I just can't see his future outside of Detroit all differences with Ken Holland aside.


Tank Nation - The fans were dealt a stinging blow in an anti Tank Nation perfect storm last night in the NHL as the Oilers lose 2-1 in regulation to the Anaheim Ducks and the Carolina Hurricanes also lost 3-1 against the New Jersey Devils. Toronto battled and got a 4-3 win which merely serves as a moral victory in the room and further stress for fans hoping to land one of the top 2 prospects in the upcoming entry draft. If there is a silver lining it's the depth of the draft and a top 5 pick should turn into a special player

Connor McDavid - Every point is a step in the wrong direction and last night the Leafs took two. The odds of winning the lottery are not as favorable as many may believe though they have improved over recent years. Short of a miracle the Leafs will not be selecting the young phenom who's been on every ones radar for years. McDavid would love to be a Leaf and unfortunately what we'll see is another young Toronto area prospect go on to help a US based team.

Twitter blows up on Morgan Rielly

Twitter got in a frenzy today when during the game day skate Morgan Rielly came forward with this gem of response.

TSN 1050's Jonas Siegel set's off the storm

Morgan Rielly today said positive approach, strong work ethic during tough time was key. "You're not here to be a girl about it."
— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) February 20, 2015

Naturally Twitter exploded and the condemnation rained down on Rielly for some poorly chosen words.


It was not used to offend anyone and I'm sure deep down everyone is aware of that but it's going to be made into a big deal as many women are trying to change the perception of female athletes and females in general from being used as a symbol of weakness. Women are strong and also proud athletes who are in a constant fight to prove they belong and can rival male athletics. Many females will take offense to the comment and suggest that this why women are not taken seriously.

A perfect example of a guy putting women down is when UFC president Dana White once laughed and said "never" when asked if females would ever fight in the Octagon. Now women have gone from an experiment in MMA to the grand stage even headlining PPV cards.


Adam Proteau of The Hockey News

I don't want Morgan Rielly suspended or crucified. I do want the entire NHL to know these comments aren't going to go unchallenged anymore.
— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) February 20, 2015

Many people have lost sight of the fact that while Morgan Rielly may be a professional hockey player he's also just 20 years old. He's a young man in a male dominated sport where often times the way you talk with your teammates spills over into how you speak to the media and a slip up like this is only human.

Looking at it from an outside perspective do you feel talk like this is keeping women from shaking this perception that being a girl signifies weakness and fragility or do you feel Twitter and Toronto radio's reaction has been overblown?


Also our first ever poll results are in

Who goes first?

Dion Phaneuf	12 (75%)
Phil Kessel	4 (25%)

Votes: 16

Did Franson/Santorelli trade bring a sufficient return?

Yes	12 (80%)
No	3 (20%)

Votes: 15

The Next Captain of the Leafs is...

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As long as contract talks go smooth in Toronto it's got to be Nazem Kadri. The poster boy for home grown players in Toronto. His offensive gifts have taken a backseat to a more responsible two way game. Randy Carlyle's influence over Kadri and his at times tough love approach have built a stronger player in Kadri. The over confident kid from his early days is turning into the steadying leader in the dressing room.

His composure and ability to make it onto the score sheet even in the dark days show a maturity that not only is he able to continue to play hard but he's also able to do it despite the circumstances that plague the Leafs heading into this rebuild. Kadri will be the veteran presence on this Leaf team when the dust settles and the young guys the team bring in will be looking to Kadri to lead.

The team defied Leafs Nation when Nazem Kadri the 7th overall pick was made to take the long scenic route in regards to the development despite being a dynamic offensively gifted player in junior. He was sent back to the London Knights after his draft year where he exploded for 93 points in 56 games and when fans were calling for him to be make the big club Kadri wound up spending most of the next year in AHL with the Marlies. He would go on to spend part of his first three pro seasons with the Marlies riding buses and trying to prove his worth.

Kadri's first full season was a good one 50 points in 78 games and he's currently on pace for 57 points this season despite a more brutal than usual team slump in TO and a greater focus on his two-way game.

Kadri isn't going to win the Hart trophy but his time here and the work he's put in represents the patience that has been missing from this club for over a decade+. You can knock Brian Burke for his at times over the top comments and penchant for being the face of the the Leafs during his time but the system he put in place has finally got Leafs Nation to put it's expectations in check to a certain degree.

Since Burke was GM the Leafs have learned to be patient even if it costs people their jobs and to stay the course with young prospects. Of the Leafs last three drafts the only player to taste NHL action and he's done so full time is stud offensive blue liner Morgan Reilly who Burke famously said was #1 on the Leafs board at the draft but was available at #5.

Four drafts ago (2011) is the next time we see Leafs prospects with NHL experience. Josh Leivo and Stuart Percy are finally starting to get looks with the big club. Leivo has been up and down between the Leafs and Marlies and Percy had a strong camp and started the year with the Leafs before being sent down.

It can be argued the Leafs have played it too safe with their selections but it's clear Kadri was the beginning of a new era in Leafs development. When Luke Schenn was rush to NHL the pressure was too much and after a strong rookie season he burnt out and people started calling for a trade. The Leafs fortunately were able to flip him for James Van Riemsdyk. This helped Burke realize the answer wasn't a quick retool as he first suspected but a wake up call and also that rushing prospects at the urging of the fans and media was not the way to go.


Kadri's self belief took a back seat to proper development and the kid who was once his own biggest fan realized the name on the back of the jersey wasn't as important as that big Leaf on the front. Ever since it's been fun to watch Kadri. He takes less risks now and having played a lot this season with Winnik and Santorelli he's shown a much better commitment to two-way hockey and as he grows as a player so to does his status as a veteran going forward for the Leafs.

I was there in Ottawa that night a hat-trick for Kadri and a beauty ending to the night with Ron and Don in the house

Will Kadri land the Captaincy in the event of a Phaneuf trade? I don't have the answer but I believe he has all the tools and the mental strength to carry this team on and off the ice and I'd be ecstatic to go and get a C put on my 43 jersey.