Just a disclaimer before I start here, everything I'm going to talk about it easily available on NHL.com and I don't pretend to provide any great insight. This post contains some very simple observations which I think are worth noting.

A quick check of the conference standings shows us that the leafs currently sit tied for 11th place in the east with 40 pts, 1 pt back of 10th place Buffalo (41). There is a 7pt gap between 9th Carolina and Buffalo while 8th is held by Atlanta with 51. This means that the leafs are 11 pts or 5 1/2 games out of the playoffs. This is not anything to sniff at but also not impossible. I think people get overwhelmed with the winning percentages needed to acheive predicted point totals by year end, a more simplistic way to look at it makes me less inclined to shoot myself anyway. The Leafs are 5.5 games behind 8th with two teams in their way, one of which (Buffalo) is essentially tied in the standings and has lost their top scorer for the season.

Something else that jumps out when we look at the eastern conference is the tiered parity, there are two distinct tiers of teams 1st through 9th and 10th through 15th. One way to seperate these teams is by goal differential, the top 9 (excluding the bizarre -9 from Tbay) are all between +33 and -1 (9th place) while the bottom tier (excluding the defense obsessed Panthers +4) all fall well below zero. This bottom tier is where the Leafs sit, obviously, so taking a closer look we can further break it down. The bottom 3 are devestatingly mired in failure with -30 odd differentials. I'll take this moment to point out Ottawa's beautiful -39 and respectfully avoid pointing out NJ's -55 (err I guess not then, sorry lou). The Maple Leafs find themselves decidedly above that pack of losers and trending upwards with a -14 (up from -28 at christmas). Whether or not you think this will continue upwards or revert back to loserdom the Leafs have made measurable progress to this point.

Also interesting to note is that although the Leafs are 11pts out of 8th they are only 15 pts out of 2nd in the conference. If you take the goal differential trend and recent excellent play as honest indicators the Leafs are fighting for a spot as a real contender. I'm not saying that they will acheive this and you can tell me to put my Maple Leafs lawn chair away (I've got a sweet spot on yonge picked out), but it's undeniable that when/if the leafs do get to the 8th spot they will have as good a shot as anyone in the east. 

The leafs looked bad last night, this is a recording.

In recent weeks the negative buzz around this team has grown to a fervor, the rehashing of 1967, Kessel trade criticism and playoff laments is at an all-time high. It's easy to get swept up in all of the negativity being bandied about by media outlets and fellow fans. I would, however, remind you that we knew this was coming.

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The Leafs season is well underway.

A statement which until Saturday, October 23, 2010 would not have had the ring of truth. There is no such thing as a Leafs season without the dull ache of frustration induced by the most recent Leafs game. It is a feeling that has driven many to drink; some to self-mutilation but more to drink and, to many a non-Leaf fan may sound unpleasant. NOT SO.

Nay, we the Leafs fan have come to know that feeling; dare I say love that feeling. It comforts in the most uncomfortable way. It feels like home, like the smell of a hockey bag. This season would not be complete without it, however this year there is hope that it will only be a faint presence triggering familiar memories rather than the overwhelming, gag-inducing reek of recent memory.

With that said this post is my rebirth in the PPP community, last year was my first season with the big club and I am happy to say there will be a sophomore season. Also because I hate a post with no point I have to mention that by far my favorite addition to the team has been Colby Armstrong. It has been so long since we have had the "intense face close-up" guy who plays his heart out. Clark, Gilmour, Domi, Tucker, Armstrong - my youth limits that list. If I am missing a leaf legend let me know.

I wasn't going to try and put my love of hockey into words, but having read the entries from various bloggers and commenters, I think I have to. The stories being told and resulting conversations have been both entertaining and moving, I am sure mine will pale in comparison but this is my attempt at returning the favour.

5. Mini-Sticks

The small white plastic hockey sticks with team names and logos stamped on them are just memorabilia designed as souvenirs to be sure, but they were a major part of my childhood. The most prized asset of any boy grade one through six when I was growing up, would have been his favorite team’s stick or if his parents were particularly awesome, a goal stick version with a Felix Potvin Sig on the blade (awwww yeahhh). Every recess from September through June, I could count on being part of a team defending one of the school's utility doors with blood, sweat and, on a few particularly heated occasions, tears. One occasion, a goalmouth scramble resulted in somebody being pushed over my back and landing on my head, my teeth bit clean through my bottom lip. Those stitches made me the coolest kid in school for the rest of the week. Another time in the would-be-finals of our poorly organized and forever on-going schoolyard playoffs (it was always playoff hockey) I made a game saving save reaching behind me with my stick to knock a shot away that had squeaked under my arm. I contend that had there been cameras and a crowd this moment would be a well known iconic highlight on par with bobby Orr's leap or Henderson's goal. It remains one of my favorite childhood memories.

4. Male Bonding

Though it's a commonly cited source of hockey love, this cannot be absent from my list. Best friends are made in the locker rooms and ice pads of arena's all over this country. I was a pretty shy kid growing up, a little awkward and a lot nerdy. My mom was friends my grade 3 teacher, an incredible woman who happened to drive her son to hockey practice from my school; it only made sense for me to tag along with them. Her kid was my childhood best friend and though we've drifted apart in recent years we were best friends for years and almost exclusively because we played hockey together. Also shared was a love of Don Cherry's Videos, we would argue over who would get to pretend to be the goalie that made each awesome glove save or the shooter who put up the last amazing dangle.

3. Go Leafs Go

I have yet to recreate the feeling of sitting in an arena packed with thousands of strangers, all pulling for the home side to score. A group of people that large, all chanting in unison, is a powerful feeling. Even if you're stuck at home watching the big game with a group of people, the power that the crowd exudes and the joy of celebrating a success with those around you is irreplaceable. That passion and feeling of unity is common to all sports but I identify with it through hockey so this is my number three.

2. The Dream

Being an only child I was left to entertain myself on many an occasion. A tennis ball and a mini stick was all I needed to have an excellent time, if that was not available a pad and pen facilitated the creation of some of the worst books ever written (all about hockey). My medium for judging my favorite songs as a child; how awesome would it feel to skate onto the ice with this as your theme music, any song that passed the test would immediately induce fantasies of making the big save or big deke whenever it was played. The plays I executed in my mind were undoubtedly better than anything I have ever done on the ice, but that said they are probably the most valuable thing hockey has ever given me. Imagination is an amazing tool for a kid.

1. Pride

Being a Canadian is an incredible thing; I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Being from the great white north we are constantly bombarded by American media and thus subject to ridicule as a nation. It's well known that we as a country are some of the friendliest most welcoming people, quick to apologize and help others. These traits are admirable and a source of pride for all Canadians who embody them, but as a kid (particularly a teenager) they can be seen as weak and embarrassing. Hockey is the one thing that brings us together, Canadians young and old can not only identify with the love the game, they can feel pride in being AWESOME at it. Old men no matter how crotchety, would have high fived green-haired asshole teenagers if they had happened to see the Crosby Goal together.

Thanks for taking the time to read. See you on the ice or in the stands.

Honourable mentions for the list:

Beer

Girls that like hockey players

Shinny/Pond Hockey

BarDown Goals

Curtis Joseph

Let that sink in. I know I know, it's older than old news. It just feels so good, it's like waking up from a nightmare only to realize that hey I didn't really just jump off that cliff running away from the army of geese theatening to kill the children I don't have (on another note don't fall asleep high).

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Hello all,

Wonderful PPP community.

I stand (sit) before you today (whenever you read this) because I have something to say (write). It is a horrible truth that I must face despite the shame I feel. A man cannot change his history, only his future; this simple truth provides me the strength I need to go through with this confession.

I was once an avid fan of the Ottawa Senators.

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The hardball times just did a bit on Brendan Ryan and his awesome defense. It made me wish the jays had a good shortstop. Assuming Johnny MacDonald doesn't pan out to be the shortstop of the future (:P) and knowing little about Justin Jackson personally, I believe trading for a shortstop is a likely scenario. What do you think AA would have to give up in a trade to land a premium defensive SS? Who's out there that you would like to see brought in?

I'm banking on at least a half-decent performance from ole 1B tonight or this will receive nothing but VT hate, but if Toskala is going to stand any chance as a goaltender in the NHL there is one thing that he will need that he does not yet have...

... A NICKNAME!!

Don't say Toskalol, we're dealing in positive psychology here.

I realize that he could do with a larger frame, better reflexes and some more coaching but that is not the point of this post. We know how much you hate him and we know that Gustavsson should start.. unfortunately for you RW and BB disagree with that logic, at least on some level, so here we are.

The Monster has, well, the monster, and that has won the fans over, he also has the benefit of being "not Toskala" but I digress.

Our boy Tosk has been hung out to dry when it comes to cool niknameage so lets be part of the solution and come up with a better handle for him. This is a cry to any leaf fans with any love, or even pity sex, for old toskala in their hearts. Lets hear your best Tosk niknames, preferrably positive ones to boost the confidence-o-meter but in the absence of any real ideas on that front, the funniest you can come up with.

This is a challenge leafs nation so man up, like the leafs on the penalty kill.

Some of Burkie's early moves (and moves made immediately prior to his hiring) have been head scratchers, in order to properly understand them we need to fully understand where the motivation lies. Burke has continually assured doubters that it is all part of the plan but some still question how some acquisitions make any sense. Allow me to shed light.. and rest assured Jeff Finger, Jamal Mayers, Wayne Primeau and Garnet Exelby are all key acquisitions to the future success of the Burke's team building plan.

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