Although the World Juniors are the holiday hockey tradition, the NHL excitement is heating up. As some teams are seeing their players head to the injured reserve list others are getting served breakfast.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have twice been littered by waffles on home ice after a loss. Fans, especially those who love to jab us Leafs' fans, are having fun with this and really, to their defence, they should. Besides the rubber rats tossed on the ice during the playoffs in Florida, the waffles may be the most creative things to throw on the ice. Still, by no means does it make it right. I don't think the point of the waffles was ever made public, but it certainly does show the frustration starting to settle in for Leafs' Nation.
On Off the Record on TSN following the second waffle incident a fan wrote in asking why it was so bad to throw garbage on the ice when Ron Wilson and Brian Burke can put garbage on the ice every night?
There is some truth to that. The Leafs have what appears to be a bunch castoffs not many teams would be interested in trading for. Burke is too stubborn, at times, to make a deal and thinks what he is worth more than the offers he receives. Yet, the Leafs sit 13th in the Eastern Conference.
Saskatchewan boy Tyler Bozak has taken some heat for not being a first line centre. It isn't his fault he came from no where and was expected to be the first line centre, an opportunity anyone else in this world would jump at. It is the Leafs' management fault for putting him in that role before he was ready. Find a free agent so this 24-year-old, who is starting his pro career, doesn't have to shoulder the load of the most popular franchise. Kessel is under achieving because you thought he was a franchise player. Here is a secret, Burke, he played with Marc Savard, the most underrated player in the league, who was among the league leader in points and a better supporting staff. Don't try to create something that isn't there.
What is the difference between Montreal, who is believed to be having a strong year and is eighth in the conference, and Toronto, who is 13th?
Toronto has lost six games this year in either a shootout, overtime or simply by one goal in regulation. Had they won those six games, they could have 12 more points and be tied with the Habs.
The margin between being a good team to a bad team in marginal in professional sports, but the good teams find ways to win those close games and teams like the Leafs haven't found that winning solution just yet.
There is a buzz surrounding the Edmonton Oilers that they could be a playoffs team. They sit in a tighter Western Conference and in 15th with the same amount of points as the Leafs. I guess it is all about expectations. The Oilers weren't suppose to be a playoff team for a few seasons so any positives are a good thing. The Leafs were supposed to contend for a playoff spot, or at least fans hoped so, and now, with that dream falling further away from reality, frustration, questions and waffles are flying all over Toronto.
For years the Leafs could relate some of their misfortunes to injuries, with just two - J.S. Giguere and Mike Brown compared to the rest of the league they are sitting pretty good.
Buffalo is missing two offensive weapons in Derek Roy and the underrated Tim Connolly. Patrick Kane is on injured reserve in Chicago. Colorado's balanced attack took a hit with Peter Mueller, Kyle Cumiskey, Chris Stewart and Kyle Quincey all on the IR. Mike Modano, Pavel Datsyuk and Dan Cleary are all out for at least a month from Detroit's lineup. Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff were expected to give Edmonton some leadership and experience, but they are doing that from the sideline. Jason Spezza is frustratingly out indefinitely once again for the Senators. Chris Pronger and two others are out of Philadelphia's lineup. Phoenix's star goalie, Ilya Bryzgalov and two others are on IR. Pittsburgh just got three players back and still has four players out including Jordan Staal. Sami Salo is among the few players sidelined in Vancouver. Montreal will be missing Andrei Markov for the remainder of the season. Steve Sullivan, Martin Erat, David Legwand and Matthew Lombardi in Nashville are on injured reserve. New Jersey is missing Zach Parise and five others, who are on IR. The New York Islanders have six players on injured reserve, Florida has five players, St. Louis has four, Washington has four, Calgary has three, Minnesota has three, the New York Rangers have three players, Anaheim has two, Tampa Bay has two and Los Angeles, Carolina and Columbus all have one on the IR.
Maybe it is time to stop using the injury excuse, the no first line centre excuse and start finding a solution and answer the questions in Toronto including, "what is your reaction to the fans chanting 'Fire Wilson'?"
I needed to get the Maple Leafs rant off my chest and should be set for the 2011 portion of the season. Happy New Years everyone!
