I thought I saw someone say that the last time the Oil lost their first 3 games of the season and made the playoffs was 81-82
- TheMussel

They lost 5 of 6 to start the season last year and some were celebrating their demise.
But we know how that ended.
We'll see how things look after 30 games.

Obviously, it's very early in the season, but have you guys seen an improvement in the issues that have hurt the Leafs over the last couple of years? Maybe no one can say until they get to the playoffs, but just curious to see if the fans notice anything vastly different from previous years.

Cheers!

Obviously, it's very early in the season, but have you guys seen an improvement in the issues that have hurt the Leafs over the last couple of years? Maybe no one can say until they get to the playoffs, but just curious to see if the fans notice anything vastly different from previous years.

Cheers!
- Chunk

Our 5v5 is way better.

Our PP is way worse.

It's sad but I'm pretty sure Troy Aikman is one of them.

- Scabeh

that's hilarious

Our 5v5 is way better.

Our PP is way worse.
- Atomic Wedgie

Cool, thanks. I'd be more interested in a really good PK than a really good PP.

What's the deal with Liljegren? Seems like he's a pretty solid d-man but can't get in the lineup. Did they just sour on him, or were the offseason adds really that much better?

Outside of the Hawks, I always hope that the Leafs win the Cup. I don't really have any affinity to Toronto, but I think it would be awesome for the league. it would just draw so much more attention. It's kind of like if Notre Dame ever wins the College Football Championship. There is no in between with them. It's either love or hate. That kind of polarity just makes for a really entertaining watch.

I'll now go back to my "I hope the Hawks can get out of the top 5 picks in the draft" discussion.

Agreed.

I hope his ceiling is a little higher than that, but I also agree that a solid 50-point guy is not a bad thing. Darcy Tucker Part Two would be nice, but I'd also take Wendel Clark Part Two.

He's only 19, but he might have had a better shot at making the roster on a team that is desperate for quality forward depth, but that's one area where the Leafs are sitting pretty and can afford to let Cowan properly marinate in the minors before rushing him up.
- GalacticStone

I think from what I've seen Cowan has a great motor at the Junior level but I haven't seen him keep up that level of dogged play at training camp with NHL players. He still demonstrates excellent speed, good edges and some decent passing. His shot, which is fine for junior, seems a little below average for NHL shooters - but Marner has a below average shot and has scored more than 25 goals 4 times. With the right moves and the right instincts the goals come to these guys.

For him to be successful at the NHL level I think he needs to work on the consistency of that motor, because that's what they coveted about him. He can be a forechecking machine with his speed and offensive instincts and his puckhandling skills are well above average, so getting in and getting on the puck will give him a control advantage.

Guys I've seen considered comparable are Rust, Konecny, Point; Cowan himself says that he likens himself to Nazem Kadri.

The fact that he has grown and put on a notable amount of muscle bodes very well for the future and he could very well be another Kadri - ideally with a little more control.

If you compare their D+1 years and look at their relative contribution compared to their team, you have:

Cowan: Scored 10.6% of his team's goals; assisting on 19.4% of his team's goals
Kadri: Scored 13.1% of his team's goals; assisting on 21.6% of his team's goals

Just for fun:

Marner: Scored 12.3% of his team's goals; assisting on 24.2% of his team's goals
Tucker: Scored 13.7% of his team's goals; assisting on 23.1% of his team's goals

The thing to keep in mind that each team had different strengths and players - like both Marner and Cowan were on remarkably strong London teams with a lot of NHL calibre talent. Nazem Kadri was on a surprisingly weak Knights team - and Darcy Tucker played on a Kamloops team that was excellent, but light on good NHL talent (in that Iginla was over 1 year away from being drafted, and Doan was in his draft year).

Our 5v5 is way better.

Our PP is way worse.
- Atomic Wedgie

almost ready for the playoffs, where 5v5 also gets worse

i (frank)ing hate all the gambling ads
just nonstop.

just shut it all down.

Down Goes Brown
@DownGoesBrown
This is an important story that everyone should read -- especially anyone dabbling in online sports betting and wondering where it's all designed to lead.

https://nytimes.com/athle...g-addiction-problem-fans/

i (frank)ing hate all the gambling ads
just nonstop.

just shut it all down.
- senstroll

Having known a few degenerate gambling addicts it's all pretty predictable. I was happy when during the Leafs game the virtual ads on the boards included a full rink ad display for gambling addiction awareness.

Having known a few degenerate gambling addicts it's all pretty predictable. I was happy when during the Leafs game the virtual ads on the boards included a full rink ad display for gambling addiction awareness.
- Zezel

i really wonder how much of a diff that makes

i really wonder how much of a diff that makes
- senstroll

If it gets a few people to check it out and get some clarity about gambling I'm glad to see it.

But yeah, it's a drop in the ocean compared to the endless tsunami of gambling ads.

i (frank)ing hate all the gambling ads
just nonstop.

just shut it all down.
- senstroll

Got nothing against people indulging in vices but they shouldn't be openly advertised, especially with impressionable youth watching.

Got nothing against people indulging in vices but they shouldn't be openly advertised, especially with impressionable youth watching.
- TheMussel

agree, I like the occasional visit to the casino or Vegas and play a bit.

its just the ads all the time..everywhere

Got nothing against people indulging in vices but they shouldn't be openly advertised, especially with impressionable youth watching.
- TheMussel

It seems every time I say something negative about sports betting on Facebook or Reddit there are several bots talking poop back. The replies often aim to provoke or dismiss the criticism and sway public opinion about gambling being OK.

"Looks like someone’s afraid of a little risk! Don’t knock it till you try it!"
"Why hate on fun? Betting makes every game more exciting!"

no news on woll yet eh
- TheMussel

Not for nothing but I did see on Twitter that he's on the ice today before the team practice and Berube said that there's a good chance he joins the team for practice tomorrow.

It seems every time I say something negative about sports betting on Facebook or Reddit there are several bots talking poop back. The replies often aim to provoke or dismiss the criticism and sway public opinion about gambling being OK.

"Looks like someone’s afraid of a little risk! Don’t knock it till you try it!"
"Why hate on fun? Betting makes every game more exciting!"
- Drapz

A friend of mine (sometimes we're prone to say that he has more money than brains) gave his son a few hundred dollars to bet with - put it in an account and just let his 17 year old go. The kid is, for the record, up about 20% - but it's ALL he talks about. He's addicted in a way that I think his father should be paying more attention to and at least be a little concerned about.

But I disapprove of it and think it's a poor decision so it does affect my bias towards it. Maybe if the kid loses all of it, I suppose it can be an object lesson. The problem is that I don't think that's how the dad sees it.

A friend of mine (sometimes we're prone to say that he has more money than brains) gave his son a few hundred dollars to bet with - put it in an account and just let his 17 year old go. The kid is, for the record, up about 20% - but it's ALL he talks about. He's addicted in a way that I think his father should be paying more attention to and at least be a little concerned about.

But I disapprove of it and think it's a poor decision so it does affect my bias towards it. Maybe if the kid loses all of it, I suppose it can be an object lesson. The problem is that I don't think that's how the dad sees it.
- Monkeypunk

Going back 15-20 years, there was a great website that came out of the United States.

At the time, sports betting wasn't legal, but they found a cool loophole:

They would give you a tiny amount (in my mind, it was six cents, but I may be misremembering). Then they would pay you some additional cents to watch ads.

You were then allowed to make bets, and you could cash out at any time.

It was fun because you could make bets with real Vegas lines, but you weren't actually risking any of your own money.

I played it for about a year. You'd be up a little, and inevitably lose your shirt, and subject yourself to watching a few more ads to build up a kitty again.

More than anything, it taught me that in the long run, the casino always wins.

I do enjoy putting money on a game, but I've found that putting $100 on a game doesn't provide me any more thrill than putting $10 on a game.

A friend of mine (sometimes we're prone to say that he has more money than brains) gave his son a few hundred dollars to bet with - put it in an account and just let his 17 year old go. The kid is, for the record, up about 20% - but it's ALL he talks about. He's addicted in a way that I think his father should be paying more attention to and at least be a little concerned about.

But I disapprove of it and think it's a poor decision so it does affect my bias towards it. Maybe if the kid loses all of it, I suppose it can be an object lesson. The problem is that I don't think that's how the dad sees it.
- Monkeypunk

"Don’t be a buzzkill! Everyone’s doing it, and it can teach responsibility!"

"Why not focus on the positives? It can be a great bonding experience!"

Going back 15-20 years, there was a great website that came out of the United States.

At the time, sports betting wasn't legal, but they found a cool loophole:

They would give you a tiny amount (in my mind, it was six cents, but I may be misremembering). Then they would pay you some additional cents to watch ads.

You were then allowed to make bets, and you could cash out at any time.

It was fun because you could make bets with real Vegas lines, but you weren't actually risking any of your own money.

I played it for about a year. You'd be up a little, and inevitably lose your shirt, and subject yourself to watching a few more ads to build up a kitty again.

More than anything, it taught me that in the long run, the casino always wins.

I do enjoy putting money on a game, but I've found that putting $100 on a game doesn't provide me any more thrill than putting $10 on a game.
- Atomic Wedgie

"C’mon, no risk, no reward! Sometimes you have to go big to win big!"

i really wonder how much of a diff that makes
- senstroll

Just reminds the degenerates to get their bets in.

"C’mon, no risk, no reward! Sometimes you have to go big to win big!"
- Drapz

I had two friends who were the cheapest individuals on earth.

One of the guys' mother owned a travel agency, so they used to go on cruises for dirt cheap.

They would pool their money and hit the casino - one would bet red and one would bet black at the roulette wheel.

Why? To get complimentary drinks.

I had two friends who were the cheapest individuals on earth.

One of the guys' mother owned a travel agency, so they used to go on cruises for dirt cheap.

They would pool their money and hit the casino - one would bet red and one would bet black at the roulette wheel.

Why? To get complimentary drinks.


- Atomic Wedgie

*LANDS ON GREEN*

agree, I like the occasional visit to the casino or Vegas and play a bit.

its just the ads all the time..everywhere
- senstroll

The animated commercial break screens from a streams I was using this weekend had them. A few years ago it was a video of ice being prepped. Last year they had a looping add for their network. This year live odds and a 2d barcode to the betting app.

I had two friends who were the cheapest individuals on earth.

One of the guys' mother owned a travel agency, so they used to go on cruises for dirt cheap.

They would pool their money and hit the casino - one would bet red and one would bet black at the roulette wheel.

Why? To get complimentary drinks.


- Atomic Wedgie

I went to Casino Niagara once, put whatever the cost of parking was on black, hit it, doubled my money, got my parking comped, and cashed out. Went to see the falls

Talking to anyone who's worked as a dealer in a casino at some point will put you off of gambling. They have (frank)ed up stories for days.

On this topic, the movie Owning Mahoney is a really good movie about gambling and is based on a Canadian true story.