Losing it

The last half dozen games for the Leafs have been heartbreaking to endure.  6 losses after coming back east from the first 3 games of a difficult road trip. 

The playoffs looked all but certain back then.   Now, the Leafs are part of a 4 way tie for the 2 wild card spots, and they are in the worst spot of all 4 squads, having played more games than any of the others.

For myself, I have something to rejoice.  Max from the Starting Nine blog sent me the first hockey cards that I have received from a fellow blogger since I start the "Just another HC blog".   A trio of Leafs to take my mind off of my teams struggles...

Even if the Leafs lose it, and fall out of the playoffs altogether, these three players are going to be vital cogs for the franchise going forward.  If people wonder if Tyler Bozak should be mentioned as part of the core, I would tell them to look at the 1st line's struggles while he was out hurt.  Then when he returned they became maybe the most dangerous unit in the NHL. 

By the way, any card that features a Leaf in their '67 style sweater is an instant hit in my book.  I will have one of those for myself some day.

For whom does the bell toll?  The bell tolls for thee....

thanks for reading, Robert

The beginning of the end?

After finishing the worst part of their road trip with a 2-1 record, the Leafs looked really good in my eyes.  I believe they were in 2nd place in the Atlantic division when they came back east.

Then the Leafs came back east.  Yes, they've been bad defensively at times this year, but starting in Washington 8 days ago, they looked even worse than ever (at times).   What happened in Leaf land next was not surprising.   The finger pointing started, and they were aimed squarely at this guy.

No, I didn't use a SCORE card to illustrate a point

It's a shame, because at times he's looked very good.  Other times, the team has made him look bad.  And finally he's made himself look bad on a few occasions as well.  I think that when the Leafs acquired Jonathan Bernier last summer

that any confidence the players/management had in Reimer was eroded.   Now that Bernier's hurt, the team had to fall back on a guy that management doesn't have 100% faith in. 

Now, the Leafs are on a 5 game losing streak, and that playoff spot they looked to be a lock for last week is dangling on a wire. 

Funny how a week in the NHL can totally turn things around, isn't it?   Don Cherry on Coach's Corner said that Reimer needs to get out of Toronto this summer; move him to another club for a fresh start.

He's 100% right in my eyes.  Not that I don't like James Reimer, that's far from the truth.  But when the Leafs acquired Bernier last summer, that was the beginning of the end. 

Much like the last week has been for the Leafs playoff chances.

thanks for reading, Robert

Rich Peverley has heart surgery

When Rich Peverley collapsed on the Dallas Stars bench in a game March 10th, the hockey world kind of took a step back and rallied around one of their own.  A lot of players and some coaches tweeted their best wishes for Rich. 

I can't even imagine what his teammates and coaches went through while Rich was being attended to.  I believe that my shock would have mirrored what Alex Chiasson experienced.

It was announced today that Peverley had heart surgery to correct an abnormal heart rhythm, and it is still unknown whether he will play hockey again.

2013-14 Upper Deck #314

The surgery was done at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the best hospitals in North America.  Here's hoping that Rich has a quick and speedy recovery and is able to get back on the ice sometime in 2014-15.

The March 10th game between Columbus and Dallas was postponed, and will be replayed April 9th.  Both teams are fighting for playoff positions in their respective conferences, so this game should be quite intense in big D.

Best wishes Rich!!

thanks for reading, Robert