newman@bgsuvax.UUCP (Tim Newman) (12/27/84)
The problem with the Leafs lies in that man who puts the Hamilton Tigercat
cheers on the scoreboard in the Gardens.
Until Harold Ballard dies or something, the Leafs are going to have to be happy
with last place.
The entire Leaf team, with the exception of Vaive and Frycer, seems to be a
team of mediocre players. What the Leafs need to do is trade 3 or 4 of their
average players for one good player on some other team. Perhaps they could
trade someone to another team with a great need for forwards or
defensemen or whatever. The Leafs also have 4 goalies with NHL experience,
so perhaps they could throw in a netminder in this sort of deal.
Certain persons on the net were discussing the Leaf's "great" (?) young
defensemen. Personally, I don't believe that either Gary Nylund nor Al
Iafrate is any good.
Nylund is a goon and Iafrate is blatantly average. On every level of profes-
sional hockey that Nylund has played on, he has done nothing but draw
penalties. Iafrate, although touted as a great offensive defenseman on
Hockey Night in Canada, has never been a great scoring machine.
The Leaf's problem is their defense. Any team which is giving
up close to 5 goals a game is in serious trouble. The Leafs should trade
away these players (particularly Iafrate and Nylund) who are perceived
to be great defensemen but who are really only journeymen wallowing in
mediocrity.
At any rate, nobody in the Norris can touch the Black Hawks. The only
reason that they didn't win the division last year was because of injuries, and
it's the same thing this year. Unless Chicago comes down with a rash of
injuries, they've got the patsy Norris sewn up.
Tim Newmanclauzon@watarts.UUCP (Cecilia Lauzon) (01/03/85)
<Yet again, this is really Carlo Sgro, formerly of oscvax> > The entire Leaf team, with the exception of Vaive and Frycer, seems to be a > team of mediocre players. What the Leafs need to do is trade 3 or 4 of their > average players for one good player on some other team. Perhaps they could > trade someone to another team with a great need for forwards or > defensemen or whatever. The Leafs also have 4 goalies with NHL experience, > so perhaps they could throw in a netminder in this sort of deal. For my opinion on this, see Jeff Richardson's article rebutting this. I totally agree with Jeff. > Certain persons on the net were discussing the Leaf's "great" (?) young > defensemen. Personally, I don't believe that either Gary Nylund nor Al > Iafrate is any good. > Nylund is a goon and Iafrate is blatantly average. On every level of profes- > sional hockey that Nylund has played on, he has done nothing but draw > penalties. Iafrate, although touted as a great offensive defenseman on > Hockey Night in Canada, has never been a great scoring machine. <LIGHT UP THE OL' FLAMETHROWER> HAS NEVER BEEN?!?!?!?!?!? Come on, give the guy a chance! Can you tell me *why* you would expect Iafrate to be more than "average" when compared to players who have years of experience behind them after he's played LESS THAN HALF A SEASON?!? I'd just LOVE it if you were the GM or coach of the Black Hawks. You might even trade some of your mid-season disappointments (hey, wanna give up Jeff Larmer?) to the Leafs for '3 or 4 of their average players'. <INTENSELY BURNING FLAME OFF> As for Gary Nylund, let him develop in peace, please. He was sent into a pressure cooker by Leaf management and really still hasn't recovered yet. He has developed into one of the hardest hitters in the league, though. Give him a chance. I still stand by my opinion on his development as expressed in my discussions with Jeff. > The Leaf's problem is their defense. Any team which is giving > up close to 5 goals a game is in serious trouble. The Leafs should trade > away these players (particularly Iafrate and Nylund) who are perceived > to be great defensemen but who are really only journeymen wallowing in > mediocrity. ARGH! Can you say 'experience'? That's funny, I thought you could. :-)