Canadian Division (Canada Cup) Part IV

[NotAVacuumSalesman]

Monetary contract reasons?

Benning reasons. He let Toffoli, Tanev, and Stecher (almost forgot him) walk in the off season.

Markstrom's contract expired. Canucks weren't able to offer him the NMC he wanted. Calgary offered more money and the NMC on his contract.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

I think it’s far overblown how much “hate” they get. I get told my posts are leaf hate constantly yet no one can find a single one to prove it. Maybe people are sick of the posts like the one I commented on which is very common on here. And they’re replies are being interpreted as hate.

The everyone hates the Leaf's thing is a little overblown. There are certain posters though who seem to go out of their way to antagonize Leaf fans. Now Leaf fans being easy to rile up, doesn't help either.

There's also some Leaf fans who go out of their way to antagonize everyone though and don't ever seem to post on the team boards even during or after important games. If I was a conspiracy theorist I'd think if I wanted to troll a website being an obnoxious over the top Leaf fan would be a great way to do it.

 

[AvroArrow]

The easiest division in NHL history.

I think eastern division teams would disagree as they get to play Buffalo/NYR/NJ

 

[Drytoast]

Benning reasons.

Markstrom's contract expired. Canucks weren't able to offer him the NTC he wanted. Calgary offered more and the NTC on his contract.

Benning must feel f***ing great right about now.

 

[Critical13]

On the Fan590 this morning someone said that American players (or players on American teams) were concerned that players on Canadian teams will dominate the awards this year due to the Canadian press focusing on North Division games more and not seeing what's happening south of the border.

Good point, but there's also the fact that the North division has 7 of the top 8 point getters this year and the top 5 goal scorers. So, there's that.

Hard not to when you have the two obvious Hart candidates in the last few years (McDavid, Drai) and a top goalscorer in Matthews. That's not bias, nothing has changed since re-alignment.

I don't see anyone in the North getting Vezina, Norris or Selke consideration so no worries there either.

Just more hand-wringing.

 

[DustyMartellaughs]

I don’t hate the Leafs. Most Leaf “haters” are just people like me who tire of the incessant coverage and blatant cheerleading that franchise gets, be it by their in house media at Sportsnet, the keepin’ up with the Joneses TSN, the barrage on social media pages, or the main board threads here that belong on the Leafs board.

I don’t hate Leafs players, nor most of their fans. What drives me crazy is when the talk is as if there’s one team in the NHL and the Leafs are it.
No team gets as much attention. Win and TSN does five minutes on why. Lose and Sportsnet does 10 minutes on why.

 

[Snipes45]

Here is the goaltending situation thus far for the North. I'd say the Oilers could be about 12-6 right now with a tad better goaltending from Kosko

 

[RogerR]

I don’t hate the Leafs. Most Leaf “haters” are just people like me who tire of the incessant coverage and blatant cheerleading that franchise gets, be it by their in house media at Sportsnet, the keepin’ up with the Joneses TSN, the barrage on social media pages, or the main board threads here that belong on the Leafs board.

I don’t hate Leafs players, nor most of their fans. What drives me crazy is when the talk is as if there’s one team in the NHL and the Leafs are it.
No team gets as much attention. Win and TSN does five minutes on why. Lose and Sportsnet does 10 minutes on why.

Complete myth.

And Leafs get attention so Rogers can make $$$. How can people not get this?

 

[Sypher04]

On the Fan590 this morning someone said that American players (or players on American teams) were concerned that players on Canadian teams will dominate the awards this year due to the Canadian press focusing on North Division games more and not seeing what's happening south of the border.

Good point, but there's also the fact that the North division has 7 of the top 8 point getters this year and the top 5 goal scorers. So, there's that.

If anything I think the opposite issue would be more likely to happen. Canada by and large consumes more hockey than the US does. With zero US hockey teams in the North Division I'd be more concerned about US media tuning out the North than Canadians not watching the other 3 divisions

 

[Hollywood3]

I take it you were not a live to witness the Norris division in the 80's? The division was so horrific, teams that were second to last in the entire NHl made the playoffs. That's the only way Leafs under Ballard would ever see the playoffs. Leafs, North stars, Dead Wings, Blues, Hawks, Yikes.. This is 1984-85 season Keep in mind they played each other a lot.

Norris Division
St. Louis Blues*	80	37	31	12	86	.538	299	288	-0.04	-0.18
Chicago Black Hawks*	80	38	35	7	83	.519	309	299	-0.05	-0.18
Detroit Red Wings*	80	27	41	12	66	.413	313	357	-0.66	-0.11
Minnesota North Stars*	80	25	43	12	62	.388	268	321	-0.77	-0.10
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	20	52	8	48	.300	253	358	-1.36	-0.0

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

1978-79 Smythe Division

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

If anything I think the opposite issue would be more likely to happen. Canada by and large consumes more hockey than the US does. With zero US hockey teams in the North Division I'd be more concerned about US media tuning out than Canadians not watching the other 3 divisions

I wonder what the breakdown is between countries for media voting, I'm sure Canada punches way above it's weight class so to speak. Is it more then 50% though?

 

[Hollywood3]

1981-82 Smythe Division

 

[Snipes45]

McDavid has actually been snakebit quite a bit this season. Look for him to start pouring in some goals.

2017-2018 to 2019-2020
RNH 11.65 SH% McDavid 14.82 SH%

2020-2021
RNH 7.5 SH% McDavid 7.32 SH%

 

[RogerR]

1978-79 Smythe Division
View attachment 397991

Man those divisions were so bad. There's was just no talent there. At least with the North there's some of the very best elite talent in the NHL there.

 

[DustyMartellaughs]

Complete myth.

And Leafs get attention so Rogers can make $$$. How can people not get this?

Oh, come on. Read any Sportsnet post by either Luke Fox or Chris Johnston. Nothing but cheerleading. Everything’s spun into a positive.

 

[RogerR]

Oh, come on. Read any Sportsnet post by either Luke Fox or Chris Johnston. Nothing but cheerleading. Everything’s spun into a positive.

Chris Johnstone has complimented the Habs more than the Leafs this year. And what about all the criticism and negatives Leafs get compared to other teams? Luke Fox is fine. He's not a homer like a John Garrett or Mark Spector who covers their teams.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Oh, come on. Read any Sportsnet post by either Luke Fox or Chris Johnston. Nothing but cheerleading. Everything’s spun into a positive.

The media spent a day tearing apart William Nylander and John Tavares, despite the Leaf's being in first place. It's not just cheerleading.

 

[Golden_Jet]

On the Fan590 this morning someone said that American players (or players on American teams) were concerned that players on Canadian teams will dominate the awards this year due to the Canadian press focusing on North Division games more and not seeing what's happening south of the border.

Good point, but there's also the fact that the North division has 7 of the top 8 point getters this year and the top 5 goal scorers. So, there's that.

It's true, that will definitely happen.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I wonder what the breakdown is between countries for media voting, I'm sure Canada punches way above it's weight class so to speak. Is it more then 50% though?

Toronto has more votes than any city in the league.

 

[Snipes45]

It's true, that will definitely happen.

It doesn't matter much when it comes to the Art/MVP. That would be the same guys without the CAD division. McDavid, Drai, Mack, etc. Prob even Marner up there in a regular season.

OTT is pumping everybody up though. Drai had I think 6 assists in one game lol.

Matthews has like 70% of his points against Ottawa and the Canucks during their putrid 2 weeks or whatever it was.

50% against Ott and 40% of his goals against OTT

That is when the Lebruns, etc pop off and it takes away from the US players

 

[Gnova]

If anything I think the opposite issue would be more likely to happen. Canada by and large consumes more hockey than the US does. With zero US hockey teams in the North Division I'd be more concerned about US media tuning out the North than Canadians not watching the other 3 divisions

I'll admit that I have watched no games outside of the north division this year.
No interest in games that have zero impact on the Jets until the 3rd third round of the playoffs (insert joke here).
I've watched way more games though.

 

[Advanced stats]

Oh, come on. Read any Sportsnet post by either Luke Fox or Chris Johnston. Nothing but cheerleading. Everything’s spun into a positive.

The leafs are first in the league and leading the North division by 8 points.
It's hard to say anything negative right now.
I'd say it's more optimism than cheerleading.

 

[DustyMartellaughs]

The leafs are first in the league and leading the North division by 8 points.
It's hard to say anything negative right now.
I'd say it's more optimism than cheerleading.

After they blew that 5-1 lead to Ottawa Sportsnet responded with a fawning article about how it afforded the Leafs the perfect opportunity to practice and reset. Very little about the poor play that led to the loss, because gotta cheerlead.

 

[Dache]

This is what I mean, that poster makes an obviously ignorant troll post and I am the only person to respond to it, but I comment and say how bad that post is and I get this.

oh come on, no other team gets the overall league wide hate like the Leafs do

They are without a doubt the most hated team on here.

I dont see anywhere close to as many people who express as much hate towards any other team like the leafs get. people go out of their way to laugh at their short comings. vheck out Steve Dangle after the Zamboni driver or really any game where leafs blow a big lead. the views and comments are through the roof from other fans.
Leafs are also the most hated around all Canadian teams due to the media.

It's so overblown. I told people this week that blown lead to Ottawa would be quickly forgotten because they'll win the next 2 games.
Remember William Nylander making 6.9 per? OMG worst contract ever! LOL

I do. When I see them I usually ignore them or if they particularly irk me I comment with the word "nonsense" and then ignore it. Everyone does things differently.

What about when comparing number goals scored with 350 PP minutes to goals scored with 200 PP minutes? Is that an egregiously bad comparison, too?

The everyone hates the Leaf's thing is a little overblown. There are certain posters though who seem to go out of their way to antagonize Leaf fans. Now Leaf fans being easy to rile up, doesn't help either.

There's also some Leaf fans who go out of their way to antagonize everyone though and don't ever seem to post on the team boards even during or after important games. If I was a conspiracy theorist I'd think if I wanted to troll a website being an obnoxious over the top Leaf fan would be a great way to do it.

Maybe that’s one reason why leaf hate seems so overblown. Maybe if you guys commented to that poster instead of me there would be nothing to “hate”

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

This is what I mean, that poster makes an obviously ignorant troll post and I am the only person to respond to it, but I comment and say how bad that post is and I get this.













Maybe that’s one reason why leaf hate seems so overblown. Maybe if you guys commented to that poster instead of me there would be nothing to “hate”

I usually don’t respond to trollish posts that support or tear down my team. Sometimes I might, but do you have any idea how exhausting that would be?

I responded to you because you weren’t being a troll. I also agreed with you just said that some people clearly post just to antagonize Leaf fans.