[GDT] Maple Leafs vs Flames - 6:00 - TSN

[bubbsy]

not sure why people are that concerned about colborne/backlund in the lineup predictions. Colborne has been progressing over the last half-dozen games, and backlund has looked more and more ineffective. Backlund's not playing poorly, but colborne has started really looking good out there.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Is Liles decent enough to plug a spot for the next few years if the Flames got a 2nd and a solid prospect as well?

$3.8 isn't that bad a contract if he's better than the current bottom pairing for the next 30 months.

If the Leafs want the Flames to take that contract we better see a 1st rounder coming our way.

I would do Butler for Liles + 2014 1st + 2015 2nd (conditional - if the Flames buy out Liles in the offseason)

Otherwise they can get lost.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

not sure why people are that concerned about colborne/backlund in the lineup predictions. Colborne has been progressing over the last half-dozen games, and backlund has looked more and more ineffective. Backlund's not playing poorly, but colborne has started really looking good out there.

I agree, Colborne and Backlund are both young improving players. People should be complaining about Stajan taking minutes away from these two players. Please trade him Feaster/Burke.

[bubbsy]

really? thought stajan is looking just fine also.

If anything what was considered a roster glaring weakness, the center position, is actually outperforming expectations.

[BigBrodieFan]

I hate games between my favourite team of all time (Leafs) and the Flames. I try to never miss a game played by either of them. Urghhh who to cheer for.. Gotta go with Flames. F.O.E. Hope it's a good game.

[-TC-]

As much as I enjoyed watching the Laffs run the oilers around last night...


Flames.win.

[TheDebaser]

Originally Posted by evil1

The national (TO) media has been pumping the leafs up (as usual). It's time to let the air out (again).

http://flames.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2010020467

I think they're for real this time.

[TheDebaser]

Originally Posted by Fire

I agree, Colborne and Backlund are both young improving players. People should be complaining about Stajan taking minutes away from these two players. Please trade him Feaster/Burke.

We really do need a defensively responsible first line player though. We can't go full oiler in year one.

Backlund has been our least impressive center so far and putting ourselves in a position where we throw Monohan and Colborne out against first line talent on a nightly basis would not be ideal for either of their developments.

[Baxter Renegade]

Flames win 6-1. Hat trick from Baertschi, Monahan with 1, Hudler with 1, Davey Jones with 1.

McG fights Phaneuf and makes him substantially more ugly than he already is. Elisha can't take it and hooks up with Monahan. This improves morale substantially, Flames win the cup.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Fire

I agree, Colborne and Backlund are both young improving players. People should be complaining about Stajan taking minutes away from these two players. Please trade him Feaster/Burke.

Matt Stajan is our best 2 way forward. I know the tank crowd want us to kick out all the vets and finish last but I want the playoffs and we need Stajan to do that. That and you don't trade a guy like Stajan for minimal return at this time just to make room for inferior players to get ice time.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by TheDebaser

We really do need a defensively responsible first line player though. We can't go full oiler in year one.

Backlund has been our least impressive center so far and putting ourselves in a position where we throw Monohan and Colborne out against first line talent on a nightly basis would not be ideal for either of their developments.

I agree with everything in this post except Backlund being the least impressive. He's been great IMO.

Having enough good centers that you have to change which one plays on the 4th line every night is not a bad thing.

[evil1]

Originally Posted by TheDebaser

I think they're for real this time.

They've been riding an unsustainably high shooting percentage. I predict that the bubble will burst by Xmas.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Elliot Freedman was suggesting the Leafs will need to find one of the 8 teams with copious cap space to take Liles in the next few weeks and that Calgary was likely.

He also suggested that taking Liles and his $3.9M cap hit for this and the next two seasons would be quite a favour resulting in something else of value getting added for Calgary in order to make it work.

This is pretty much how the Flames have positioned themselves, but I guess three years is longer than I envisioned.

Is Liles decent enough to plug a spot for the next few years if the Flames got a 2nd and a solid prospect as well?

$3.8 isn't that bad a contract if he's better than the current bottom pairing for the next 30 months.

The question of what would be fair compensation for taking Liles off their hands is an interesting one.

I do not think a 2nd is enough.

And I don't think there is any chance they give up a 1st (I sure wouldn't).

So that leaves me thinking that maybe a 2nd this year and a 3rd next year might do it. Or, as you say, a 2nd and a prospect.

How about we send them Butler or Smith (to replenish their depth) and they give us 2 2nds with Liles?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

How about we send them Butler or Smith (to replenish their depth) and they give us 2 2nds with Liles?

As much as Liles is a bad contract he is an upgrade over either SOB or Butler so I would be thrilled with that.

[djsFlames]

I'm going to be pissed if half the dome is blue tonight. I hope the boys make sure their crowd stays hush. Will be cheering loud for the good guys and in the proper colours. Leafs are still a joke getting bailed out by good goaltending. Let's expose and humiliate them!

[Racki]

Imagine how wired McGrattan and Orr must be right now. There's little doubt that this heavyweight tilt is going down tonight.

Orr was the last guy I can remember that really got the best of Big Ern. I remember Orr caught him with a shot that really hurt him and Orr kind of let McGrattan off the hook when he saw that he had Mcgrattan in big trouble.

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by Hockeyboi

That's why I hope that Sportsnet are doing a Flames feed coz I don't want to listen to a CBC feed that are unbelievably pro-Leafs!!

A Flames fan in Ballymena, Northern Ireland! Beautiful wee town!

If you weren't so Ballymena, with your Ballymoney, you could buy a Ballycastle, for your Ballyholme.

[868904]

Originally Posted by iggysback05

Imagine how wired McGrattan and Orr must be right now. There's little doubt that this heavyweight tilt is going down tonight.

Orr was the last guy I can remember that really got the best of Big Ern. I remember Orr caught him with a shot that really hurt him and Orr kind of let McGrattan off the hook when he saw that he had Mcgrattan in big trouble.

Don't forget Frazer Mclaren too. McGrattan could be busy tonight.

I thought Jackman might come in because of all the tough guys on the leafs, but even if he did play, Orr and Mclaren would destroy him anyways.

[Ashasx]

Am I the only one who cannot stand Mark Masters?

[Hi-Psi]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I'm going to be pissed if half the dome is blue tonight. I hope the boys make sure their crowd stays hush. Will be cheering loud for the good guys and in the proper colours. Leafs are still a joke getting bailed out by good goaltending. Let's expose and humiliate them!

Funny cus I'm pretty sure that's what people have been saying about the Flames for many years before the rebuild.