JFJ Can't Get A Break

At this point in the season you have to feel for Leafs GM John Ferguson Jr, the guy has done everything that fans want yet they are still calling for his head. First off all fans wanted was to beef up the back end and Ferguson went out and picked up Kubina and Gill but he did over pay. Secondly after last year fans wants goals, goals, goals so he went out and picked up 40 goal scorer Jason Blake and that hasn't worked out to good since Blake has only scored 2 goals season and it on pace for 8 all year. The bottom line is that he did what fans wanted and what the team needed and the pick ups just haven't worked out.

Poor JFJ must just be sitting in his office wondering what's going to happen next. Last night the Leafs badly out played the Montreal Canadians only to lose in overtime on another Bryan McCabe blunder. If that wasn't bad enough the news came out about top prospect Jiri Tlusty nude photos popping up on Internet sites, the pictures were taken last year while Tlusty was playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.

It's too bad because given the right place with the right players and no interference from the upper brass at MLSE and not having to worry everyday if he's going to be fired or not JFJ would make one hell of a General Manager.

One Month In..

So the NHL 2007/08 season has been going for a month strong (in Canada at least) and here is a list of the biggest surprises and disappointments.

Biggest surprise start...

This one was a close call but I'm giving the edge in this category to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Jackets have gotten off to a great start going 7-3-1 in the first 11 games with stellar goal tending coming from Pascal Leclaire who is 6-2 this season with 4 shutouts and a G.A.A of only 1.25. Head Coach Ken Hitchcock also has superstar Rick Nash playing defence, that's right Nash playing defence who was a career minus 59 before coming into this season and now he is a plus 3 and scoring highlight reel goals night after night. The big question is can they keep up with this hard checking trap hockey set in place by the coaching staff and will disgruntled winger Nikolai Zherdev finally get traded for some help or at least some more support on the back end.

Biggest team bust so far...

Most people would say ATLANTA because of the team's record and the fact they fired their coach so early in the season but my biggest disappointment has to be the play of my hometown beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. Let just look at the facts, they brought in 40 goal scorer Jason Blake and he only has 2 goals and of course the Leafs brought in goaltender Vesa Toskala at the trade deadline and has looked average at best, he's allowed 31 goals in only 9 games, owns a record of 4-4-1 and a save percentage under .900 and of course the play of the seven million dollar man Bryan McCabe and i don't really think we need to go over his play again. All of these reason's have contributed to the Leafs bad start but what was worst was the Leafs opened the season with 9 games at home before heading out on the road and they didn't take advantage of home town cooking going 5-5-3 for 13 points to open the season.

A Couple of quick ones...

Best Rookie: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Taves

Best Player: Hendrick Zetterberg

Best Coach: Ken Hitchcock

Best Goalie: Pascal Leclaire

Best Team: Detroit Red Wings

Worst Team: New York Rangers

Biggest Surprise: Mats Sundin

Biggest Bust: Scott Gomez & Chris Drury