Canucks and Leafs non-trade…

The Vancouver Canucks and the Toronto Maple Leafs not agreeing to trade Roberto Luongo for Nazem Kadri and James Reimer has worked out very well for both teams.

There is an expression in the hockey world they use for that occurrence: ”Sometimes the best trades are the ones that aren’t done.”

Roberto Luongo has played 8 games, won 4, and lost 3 in overtime. This means every time Luongo starts a game the Canucks register at least 1 point. His goal against is 1.63 with an excellent save percentage of.934. He is presently third in the NHL for goal against average.

The Canucks are leading their division due in large part to Luongo’s performance.

After 17 games Nazem Kadri leads the Leafs in points and is second in assists. He has also played well defensively. He is tied for fourth on the Leafs in terms of plus – minus with a plus 5.

James Reimer has won 6 games, with a 2.31 goal against average and a .929 save percentage.

The Leafs are presently in the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference. If the season ended today they would be in a playoff spot.

I don’t expect the Canucks to trade Luongo this year.

The Leafs on the other hand need to make a move to make the playoffs. Only 2 points separate the fifth to tenth spot in the Eastern Conference. They have another 10 games to evaluate where they are positioned at the halfway point of the season.

Do you see the Leafs hanging on to their playoff spot?

Enjoy your day!

The Toronto Maple Leafs season will be…

Maple Leafs fans, this season will be a long one for you. The best thing the Leafs can do this year is to play some of their prospects.

The Toronto Maple Leafs organization is represented by the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League. The Marlies are presently ranked second in the Western Conference. The Leafs should bring up a few of the Marlies players to start the season. The players are in game shape since they have played almost a full season. The players from the Marlies would bring exuberance to the Leafs locker room that has been lacking.

Nazem Kadri should be given a serious chance at a roster spot on the big club. He played 27 games and has accumulated 26 points.  At 34 games played and registered 37 points, Keith Aucoin is also playing well right now. He is presently fifth in the league in scoring. One of these players should be playing for the Leafs.

Morgan Rielly should be returned to his Junior team for a chance to win a Memorial Cup or help the Toronto Marlies win a Calder Cup. It doesn’t make sense to play Reilly this year when it is a shortened season. The Leafs won’t make the playoffs and the team will lose a year, during which they could instead keep him with the Leafs organization before he becomes a restricted free agent.

The goaltending situation won’t be resolved by trading for Roberto Loungo. James Reimer and Ben Scrivens should just share the load throughout the season. Neither goalie is a true number 1 goalie that can play 80% of the games.

The defensive core is a disaster. Don’t expect much from the defensemen either in scoring, or in the defensive end. The goalies will be shell-shocked once again during the games. That is why I don’t think it is a good idea to have Morgan Reilly play this season with this group. He will develop bad habits by playing this year with the Leafs.

Randy Carlyle is a good coach, the fans will see a difference, and the team will be competitive despite the lack of talent.

This will be another non-playoff year for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Do you think the Leafs will make the playoffs?

Enjoy your day!