Do Kadri & Reimer Stay With Leafs

With the trade of Dion Phaneuf, most fans begin to ask, "Now how about moving Lupul and Bozak."  With both players being out with injuries, it would be difficult for the Leafs to move either. Moreover, with respect to Lupul, his contract and injury woes throughout his career further complicates things. While we know that some players on the roster may be moved prior to the deadline (Parentau, Polak to name two), I think the bigger question is what do the Leafs do with James Reimer and Nazem Kadri. 

I'm beginning to think that management is beginning to have some questions about whether or not Jonathan Bernier can be their goaltender for the next several years. It's the only thing that makes sense as to why Reimer is getting most starts unless the Leafs are marketing him for a possible trade. The problem with that scenario is that Reimer is a UFA at the end of the season so why trade him if you can get him without giving up anything. 

I have always liked Reimer. He's a gamer and has always been a good teammate, even when Randy Carlyle regularly dissed him. I don't remember ever hearing that Reimer was a problem in the dressing room. The concerns I have with Reimer is that he seems to be injury prone and in the past has had a problem with high glove side shots. It seems that some of his techniques have improved this year and that is even the case with his performance in shootouts. But, once again this year he has been out of the lineup due to injury. 

With respect to Bernier, I have wanted to believe that he was the answer in goal. But, this year has been awful and I wonder if he can truly be a number one goalie. All this being said, unless the Leafs believe that Sparks or Bibeau can jump to the NHL next season or if they have their collective eye on another goalie somewhere else, it might be in their best interest to sign Reimer to a reasonable 2 year deal. Whether he would accept that is another story. The other option would be to move Bernier, sign Reimer to a 3 year deal and cultivate a young goalie who will be ready 2 years down the road when the Team will be ready to contend for a playoff spot. 

Nazem Kadri's situation is another tough one. There is no question that his overall play this year under Mike Babcock has improved. However, I really have to question whether he is a number 2 or number 3 center. In my opinion, he is not a game breaker. He can be a solid center man but I don't see him warranting a contract more than Tyler Bozak's. Kadri may think otherwise but I don't see it.  

Another option could be exploring interest for Kadri before the Feb 29th trade deadline. If the Leafs could get a 2nd round pick & a prospect in a trade for Kadri it might be worth something to consider. The problem is going to be what Kadri's expectation is for a contract  The kid is very self-confident which could mean that he has a higher value of himself than what the market will bear. In my mind, a contract that may be slightly higher than Bozak's would seem to be in order. One other thing to consider, what if the Leafs have the ability to draft Auston Matthews. You could conceivably have Matthews and William Nylander as your number one and number 2 centers. It then comes down to Bozak or Kadri as your number 3.

The Kadri situation is a difficult one and I'm glad Shanahan & Company are the ones who have to make the decision. But considering what they have done up to this point, I feel confident that they will make the right one. 

Tuesday's Thoughts

While wondering what legendary Hall of Fame Coach and Cincinnati Bengals founder Paul Brown would have said after the Bengals monumental meltdown on Saturday night, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* The NFL announced yesterday that Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been suspended three games to begin the 2016 season for his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver Antonio Brown. He should have received more of a suspension. For a league that feigns concern about player safety and who's image gets tarnished daily by the criminal behavior of its players, Burfict's intent to injure Brown was pre-meditated and should be treated far more harshly than a 3 game suspension. His actions, along with those of that other mental giant Pacman Jones, cost their team a chance to move on in the playoffs. Some want to deflect blame from these two morons onto Bengals running back Jeremy Hill, who fumbled after the Bengals intercepted Landry Jones which should have ended the Steelers playoff hopes. But that was a football play and fumbles happen. The actions of Burfict and Jones are not football plays but the acts of unprofessional hoods.

* Some members of the Bengals offensive unit have said they weren't surprised with what happened at the end of the game Saturday because the defensive unit has been out of control all year and Head Coach Marvin Lewis had done nothing to stop it. I wonder if Burfict and Jones would be playing for Bill Belichick.

* Teddy Bridgewater led his team for what should have been a game winning field goal on Sunday against Seattle in the third coldest playoff game in NFL history. AJ McCarron led his team to what should have been a game winning touchdown for Cincinnati. Bridgewater was the QB who, then-President of Football Operations for the Cleveland Browns, Joe Banner wanted to draft as a result of an analytics study. Banner was fired and Minnesota drafted Bridgewater in the first round of the 2014 draft. In that same draft, McCarron was drafted in the fifth round by the Bengals. The Browns? They drafted Johnny Manziel. Enough said.

* Was shocked yesterday to learn that James van Riemsdyk will be out 6 to 8 weeks with a fractured foot. The Maple Leafs have called up Josh Leivo from the Marlies and Shawn Matthias will be moved up to play with Tyler Bozak and P.A.Parenteau.

* Will be interesting to see how the Leafs bounce back from their 7-0 drubbing at the hands of San Jose when they take on Columbus Wednesday night at the ACC. I would expect a spirited performance.

* Last night's College Football Championship Game was much better than the dull semi-final games. Full marks to Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban. You could tell Saban is from the Parcells-Belichick tree by calling for an onside kick when he did as he realized his defense couldn't handle DeShaun Watson and the Clemson offense.

* Well not sure where Saban has been hiding tight end OJ Howard but the kid was awesome last night. Will be interesting to see if this athletic junior will decide to stay in school or declare of the NFL Draft.

* Is there any doubt that DeShaun Watson will be the pre-season favorite to win the Heisman Trophy next season?

* Should be quite the show in Western New York next football season as Rex Ryan has hired twin brother Rob to be assistant head coach.

* There is no question that Tom Coughlin resigned as NY Giants head coach at the request of ownership because why else would he be interviewing with the Eagles and the 49ers? Wonder what Giant veterans like Eli Manning will think if Coughlin is on another team's sideline for the 2016 season.

* If the Browns were smart they would hire Hue Jackson right now. What kills me is how they haven't reached out to Lovie Smith. Smith was turning Tampa Bay around and has been winner wherever he has been. Probably why the Browns won't interview him.

* If Barry Bonds doesn't belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame, then Major League Baseball needs to reinstate Henry Aaron as the home run king.

* My fearless predictions: Denver, New England, Green Bay and Seattle. By the way, I hope I'm wrong about the NFC games.

* And finally, where are all of the naysayers who were blasting Knicks President Phil Jackson. The Knicks are a contender to make the playoffs in the East and appear to have drafted a good one in Kristaps Porzingis. It seems that K.P. is fitting in nicely and Carmelo Anthony may be having one of his best all around seasons. It looks like the Zen Master may have the Knicks on the right path.

Tuesday's Thoughts

While thinking about what it would be like to follow a real NFL football team, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* Well, Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer became the next in a long line of fired head coaches and general managers who have been fired by the Cleveland Browns and more specifically by that smooth snake oil salesman, Jimmy Haslam.  While there was no question that Ray Farmer had to go, I really believe that Mike Pettine could have remained as head coach.  Pettine's biggest problem was the decline of the most expensive defensive unit in the NFL.  Firing Pettine made sense if the new general manager was going to be hiring the new head coach.  But according to Snake Oil Jimmy, the head coach will be hired first and then he along with Haslam, his wife and Sashi Brown (the new V.P. of Football Operations) will hire the general manager. What a joke.

* Snake Oil Jimmy's press conference was pathetic. Oh we had to hear how he was accepting full responsibility for the failures of his team, If that is suppose to make me feel better, sorry Snake Oil Jimmy but that does nothing for me. What's clear is that Haslam has no idea what the hell he's doing. We are all suppose to be impressed because he has brought in an executive search company to assist in the hiring of the new head coach. Snake Oil tells us that this company was involved in the hiring of Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, Pete Carroll at Seattle and Andy Reid at Kansas City. Really!! An executive search company was needed to bring Harbaugh to his alma mater or Reid to Kansas City?? Give me a break!! What Haslam didn't tell us was that this company was also involved in the hiring of failed NY Jets General Manager John Idzik.

* Haslam's promotion of Sashi Brown is another example of Snake Oil Jimmy's incompetence. Brown is a lawyer who has worked for the team as its cap specialist and contract negotiator. He is not a football guy, yet Snake Oil Jimmy said that Brown will have ultimate say on the 53 man roster. Brown will also have the final say on draft day.

* Every NFL expert and former coaches have said that the Cleveland job will be the least attractive of all the current openings. But not according to Snake Oil Jimmy. His incompetence will result in the Browns settling for a guy who has never been a head coach in the NFL.

* Johnny Manziel needs to be cut. I'm tired of his defenders trying to justify this spoiled rich kid's actions. He doesn't give a damn about his team, his teammates or the fans. All he cares about is promoting himself. But here's the bigger issue, Manziel is not a pro quarterback. He's too small and his arm isn't strong enough. Couple that with him not being committed to being the best he can be and you have an Arena League QB.

* Heard Justin Gilbert, another one of Ray Farmer's disaster first round picks in 2014, yesterday on Cleveland radio 92.3. The reason why he couldn't make team meetings in his rookie season was because he was a hard sleeper. You can't make this stuff up. This clown needs to be cut too.

* I wonder what Sashi Brown thinks of the $9 million contract that Dwayne Bowe got to do absolutely nothing this year.

* What a great testament to the character of Tom Coughlin by former Giant Justin Tuck. Tuck said that not only was Coughlin a great football coach but he also taught his players how to be good husbands and good parents. Will be interesting to see who the Giants will get to replace their former soon to be Hall of Fame coach.

* So much for exciting college football playoff games. Both games were a bust and one has to wonder how good the championship game will be. In fact the bowl games on New Year's Day were also non-eventful.

* The Maple Leafs head out west for a three game road trip beginning Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks. You have to be impressed with the job that Mike Babcock is doing. The turnaround that this franchise has made since Team President cleaned house and brought in Kyle Dubas, Mark Hunter, Lou Lamiorello and Babcock has been amazing. Maybe Shanny could give Snake Oil Jimmy a call.

* With Wild Card weekend approaching, isn't it interesting that Brian Hoyer is leading the Houston Texans into the playoffs. As was pointed out by someone in Cleveland yesterday, the beginning of the end for Mike Pettine may have been when he was forced to keep Hoyer on the bench after he was injured so Johnny Boy could play.

* Here's hoping Cincy, Washington, Minnesota and Kansas City are victorious this weekend.

* Loved seeing Peyton Manning come off the bench and lead the Broncos to victory and the number one seed in the AFC. I'm not a Denver fan but I would love to see Manning lead them to the Super Bowl.

* The best that could happen to the Browns is if Hue Jackson or Jim Schwartz were hired as their new head coach. Both have head coaching experience in the NFL.

* And finally, it was really nice listening to former Browns Head Coach Sam Rutigliano yesterday. Brought back many great memories of the Kardiac Kids Days. Not sure if we will ever get back to Cleveland being relevant in the NFL again under Snake Oil Jimmy.

Leafs Reach .500 with 4-1 win

With four unanswered goals, the last one into an empty net, the Toronto Maple Leafs reached .500 for the first time this year completing a 2 game sweep of the St. Louis Blues with a 4-1 victory at the Air Canada Centre.  For the second game in a row, Jonathan Bernier was solid as he came up with several big saves and withstood a furious attempt by St. Louis at the end of the game.  With the status of James Reimer up in the air, the Leafs will need Bernier to continue his recent play.

Peter Holland looked the part of a former first round pick scoring the ultimate game winner on a bullet of a shot that Blues goalie Jake Allen had no chance on.  Holland led all Leaf forwards with seven shots and really has stepped up his play since being sent up to the press box earlier this season.  You have to be impressed with the overall play of Nazem Kadri as he scored a key insurance goal last night that gave the Leafs a 3-1 lead that pretty much salted the game away.  What is most impressive is his play defensively as Coach Mike Babcock matches Kadri's line against the other team's top line.

As was pointed out last night during the telecast, it is remarkable to look at where the Leafs were last year compared to this year.  While last year's team was seventh overall in the East, it was evident to many that they were not as good as the record showed.  That became very clear after the firing of Randy Carlyle and the awful record under Peter Horachek.  The biggest difference with this year's team was described by Tyler Bozak. Bozak indicated that last year when the team fell behind they knew they would lose. This year, according to Bozak, they expect to win every game and never feel they are out of a game. That has been clear to me even in October when the team could not post a win.

Many in Leaf Nation seem to be confused as to whether they should be happy with the team's play or upset that they are not losing more.  My thoughts on this: 1.) Mike Babcock is developing a culture that will be long lasting.  Accountability and being defensively responsible are the key along with not being afraid to go into the dirty areas offensively.  When the Nylanders and Marners are ready to put the Leaf uniform on there will be no confusion as to what the expectations are if you want ice time and 2.) If we take Leaf management at its word, many current Maple Leafs will not be with the club after February 29th.  I will be surprised if some of the players signed to one year contracts and pending free agents are not moved for draft picks thus further stocking the team's young talent pool.  In the end, we need to appreciate the turnaround that is taking place.  With a draft class that may be one of the deepest, the Leafs are certain to get a very talented player with their first round pick.

As the team heads out West this week, Leaf fans have to be optimistic with the direction of the franchise. What a difference a year makes!!!