Should be a good one tonight, the Leafs have been struggling to get shots lately–nine in two periods the other night–so I assume Boston’s defense play along with Zdeno Chara being taller than Blake sitting on Stajan’s shoulders should result in a piss poor performance from the Leafs.  Look for Stajan, Poni, and Kazakstan to be completely over matched with poor forechecking.  As for that third line of the Leafs who shows streaks of brilliance: expect Moore to flash a pretty but meaningless goal and I am crossing my fingers that Chara lines up Blake in the corner. Toskela will no doubt rob the receipents of some beautiful Savard set-ups only to let Lucic sneak a couple soft ones by him.

Tune in for Wilson’s post game comments I am sure they will be beauties.

In spirit of the Leafs philosophy that it is never too late–as in never too late to go out and sign some aging veteran who is beyond past their prime–I will now look back at some of the top Leaf Circus acts of the last year or so to provide a little in site into who I am and what my banter is all about.

PLAYING FOR NINTH

How many more seasons will we have to watch this team bloat with meritocracy? A few years ago I was cheering on the New Jersey Devils when they played the Islanders and I was praying for Clemmenson miracle…now I think I wish they never had a chance.  As much as every Leaf fan wants to see a great team there is a constant desire to see a team in the post season.  In the back of our minds we still always think, perhaps they can pull it off.  Sad to say, I don’t see this team pulling it off anytime in the near future.  Ron Wilson said it best, “we are not a good team”. And I will loose my mind if they continue to land in the upper half of the none playoff teams.  Can we finish dead last already?  Start Joesph some more games Ron.

KYLE WELLFED

In the past few years no one has kept me more entertained than this guy.  I understand that he out stayed his time in Toronto and there is always a question about his conditioning; however, when he has that perfect mix of bring game smoke and on-ice creativity he is a ball to watch.  Too bad he could not work into some future plans.  I am happy to see Kyle Wellwood lighting it up again in Vancouver–I hear the smoke is better out there too Welly.

MATS REFUSES TO GO

While on the topic of Canucks, might as well get into this big Swede. So much has been said upon this already and I ranted for many a hour to my friends around and after the deadline last year; however, I must say that I respected his decision when he said I don’t want to leave.  I respected him when he said that winning a Stanley Cup is going through a whole year from training camp to the playoffs.  I totally lost respect for him when he signed half way through the season with another team and put on a donkey of a sideshow. If there ever hang his jersey from the rafters I will cut it down myself.

WHO IN PEANUT BUTTER IS JEFF FINGER

I was skeptical but optimistic when I heard we signed a d-man I barely ever heard of before. They told me he was a defensive, tough kind of d-man.  I thought okay maybe we got a Willie Mitchell type player or someone that can provide some solid shutdown minutes–even if the asking price is a little steep. After watching about half a season, the only defensive thing Jeff Finger is is a defensive liability.

NO-TRADE-CLAUSE-APOLOOZA!

John, I am sure you are a great guy.  You seem very polite and you seem to have a general idea about the game of hockey, but seriously you’re a terrible GM.  I was going to make just one section on JFJ but there are too many aspects so I picked a couple to elaborate on.  This one is pretty self explanatory.  Why does everyone and his duck on the Leafs get a no-trade clause?  What were the negotiations like?

“Well John, we feel Darcy Tucker deserves around…”

“I’ll give him 4 million and a no-trade clause!!!!!!”

“Wow John that is generous.  We never thought Darcy would get a no-trade clause, but if you insist.”

I would like to end this by quoting the great Bill Waters: “Whoever told John to go out and sign Pavel Kubina for 5 Million should be tarred, feathered, taken out back and shot”.

THE SILVER FOX

Well Cliff Fletcher had a good run…then he came back and his run was decent.  I mean his hands were tied with a lot of no-trade clauses and he did his best–minus perhaps that questionable Finger signing. Glad to see he is back and hope he continues to provide positive hockey advice as long as he doesn’t have to read any stat lines.

ROTTEN RONNIE

I’ve had my share of Ron Wilson opinions on both ends of the positive-negative spectrum over the years.  When he signed in Toronto I was a little skeptic I must admit, but he is a straight shooter and I cannot fault him for that.  Always telling it like it is and I love he decisions to bench players no matter who they are if they are dragging their jocks.  Keep the great sound bites coming Ronnie.

HEAD CLOWN: JASON BLAKE

In the future I would not be suprised if I did an entire piece on this fool, but for this posts’s purpose I will attempt to keep it short.  I will say that I do send my best wishes to Jason concerning his medical situation and hope him as well as his family all the best.

With that out of the way I would like to say that right from the beginning I hated this signing.  Come on the guy is five-foot-nothing and had one good season cause he was playing with Yashin.  He is a career third-fourth liner and what makes anyone think he can go beyond that? WHAT? So he had one 40 goal season. It snows in Texas every now and again too. He is old, signed for too many years and making too much bloody money.  If Burke can unload him he is the man, but who in their right mind would want him? Let’s hope JFJ gets a new GM job in the next year. Perhaps, if Jason keeps on his little point streak someone will be foolish enough to take him, but I doubt it.

Before I wrap up the Blake, I would like to commend Downey for that punch in the eye on Blake hahahaha. It is favorited on my YouTube list and always cheers me up when I am down.  He runs around like a clown pushing in scrums and being a little dip-shit, then he deserves atleast six more just like the mouse he already had.  Jason Blake is a foolish clown.

BURKE STATE OF MIND

Will he come to Toronto or won’t he. Well we all know he did.  Is he really the champion GM a lot of people think he is? Perhaps.  I am not completely convinced, considering Murray built a lot of that team in Anahiem.  Yes, Burke did some fine tuning and yes he built a contender in Vancouver; however, if he wants to prove himself as an Elite GM he is really going to have to work some black magic here in Toronto.  First up, send out the clowns.  Bye Kubina.  Waive goodbye Mr. Ponikorisky. Punch your ticket Matt “I am not a first line center” Stajan. Been nice knowing you Steen…wait that one already went through.

Anyway you look at it this franchise needs a ton of work and whether we like it or not, it appears Toronto will be in a Burke State of Mind for a long time to come.