Ok, now you can bring Avery back.

Because if anyone will have that little moron shaking in his boots, it's Torts.

Yes, the Big Apple just got a little more entertaining.

It's another one of those moments that just seems scripted. Torts will make his coaching debut with his new team in Toronto where he will bask amongst his former co-workers at TSN and the Toronto media.

I'm so happy to have my old John Tortorella back — I missed him. The screaming, yelling, swearing, f-bomb dropping Tortorella, that is. So much more fun than the reflective, non-swearing, analytical Tortorella we got on TSN (although to his defense, he did let a few drop here and there.)

Regardless. There is nothing like a good post-game interview with John Tortorella when his team played like donkey shit. And now he's with the New York Rangers. So that possibility is highly probable.

What a nice pre-trade deadline treat.


and while I was writing this post.


MARTIN BRODEUR WAS PULLED OFF INJURY RESERVE!!!
It's looking like a debut against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday is the plan.

For the conspiracy theorists out there.
Sounds like Peter Stoffer drank the koolaid.

There's SNOW... in TORONTO.

You know... it snowed here in Charlottetown the other day... probably 10 - 15 cm ... and we all lived.

But it appears... Toronto can't handle it.

coming to you live from dialup internet in PEI.

Saga #2 ends. Saga #1 continues.

Here’s the biggest surprise of 2008. Brian Burke is the new General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Can you feel the sarcasm?)

Now, since this is such a big surprise, nobody’s been really talking about it for months and months. This, of course, means every possible angle of his tenure has not been talked about by every sports analyst in the country.

So this all means that I have a lot to say about this.

It's funny, saga #2 has resolved itself and yet Saga #1 is still going. Mats Sundin “says” he’ll be back in December. (Tomorrow is December). But he also said he’d make a decision by Aug 1. Soooo, don’t hold your breath.



Favourite quote of the week:

“The opposition has every right to bring down the government. But Stephane Dion has no right to take power without going to the people.”

Is Stephen Harper high? The opposition outnumbers the Conservatives.

In fact, I would say that whoever the coalition chooses to lead, they will have more of a right to govern than Stephen Harper. The majority of the country actually voted against him.

Finally some juicy drama out of Ottawa.

Remember when...

...Toronto was like looking for a General Manager, and they were allegedly courting Brian Burke, and they were getting in all kinds of trouble because, he was like, already in this contract with Anaheim, and you're not supposed to be all up in the grill of a guy when he's already under contract with another team...because it's sorta like cheating on your significant other with like, their best friend... and he was all like, noooo I love it in Anaheim I would never leave here.... it's like a family.... Toronto? no no. great opportunity but... not for me.

GUESS WHAT!?

Burke is done in Anaheim. Yup mid-season divorce. Loving it now? Probs not, Burke is lovin this less than a fried chicken head in his McNuggets.

"This was the hardest decision I've ever had to make," he said. "I'm comforted that the team is in great hands with Bob and [assistant GM] David [McNab] in charge. I can't thank everyone enough for their understanding and patience as I wrestled with this decision."

Sighh... and so opens ongoing saga #2: The bidding battle for Brian Burke. In mid-season. And Toronto is involved. Therefore the Toronto media. Which includes Michael Lansberg on Off the Record. Seriously just hit me over the head and pass me the bottle of scotch right now.

(just for the record, saga #1 would be Mats Sundin, but will be continued to be known simply as, the sundin saga.)

Maurice fired.

Paul maurice was fired as head coach by the Maple Leafs today.

Did I just type that? Yes I did. seriously?! Ok I just checked again, there's a picture, it must be true. Ok, I know the team underachieved (which is ironically an understatement). But it's not exactly like this is a new thing. The leafs do that. They underachieve, it's what they do. They enjoy being mediocre, what else would Michael Landsberg talk about if they weren't mediocre? It's not Maurice's fault they're too busy out there taking naked pictures of themselves. (Sorry, I know that was low... but I just cannot help it.)

On a (semi) serious note, I'm not sure if firing Maurice was the best call. Maurice cannot help that his team can never be rebuilt due to the fact that any player of value is locked into a no-trade clause (there is apparently a high rate of dementia among the Toronto players). And he managed to handle the Toronto media without looking like John Tortorella. And really, the Toronto media is a bit more...(pesky, annoying, obnoxious? choose one.)...than the Tampa Bay media. Speaking of John Tortorella, why does he have a job? The 2007-08 Tampa Bay Lightening was probably the biggest underachiever since Alexandre Daigle, and yet not only does he have a job, he is the head coach of the USA hockey team at the World Championships. My final question is, how do you get fired by an interim general manager? It's so mind-boggling. Listen folks I have the solution. It's pretty simple. It'll solve all of the problems. Make Mats Sundin the General Manager, send all the rest of the Leafs down to the AHL. Bring up the Marlies in their entirety. Dig up Bill Barilko. Simple.

In summary,
- Maurice firing bad idea
- Tortorella having job is shocking
- not as shocking as a naked Jiri Tlusty
- real hockey resumes tonight (Dallas and Detroit)
- **edit** hockey does NOT resume tonight. Today is Wednesday. only wednesday. dear lord it's only wednesday.

Martin who?

ok, maybe that's too far. In fact I love Martin Brodeur, he's one of the greatest goalies ever. But he did just get 4 goals scored on him, and Montreal Canadiens rookie Carey Price just got his second NHL shutout.
Now I'm not sure if Brodeur is really to blame in all of this. All four goals were absolutely beautiful, thread-the-needle passing plays by the fast Montreal forwards, that left the big, slow New Jersey defenseman with their heads spinning.

The Canadiens have the most 40 point-plus players in the league, meaning that they are very effective at pulling goals from all lines. Yes. Even Micheal Ryder got a goal. Ryder seems to be one of those streaky players — perhaps that is what is happening right now... right into the playoffs?

Before this game the Canadiens were 1 point back of the Devils and this win went a long way to help the Canadiens secure at least first in their division, and possibly the conference (although the Devils do have a game at hand).

Also worth a notable note, the Montreal fans have been absolutely fantastic, and it was especially noticed by the Versus commentators tonight. They were loud and energetic all night and gave the Habs a loud standing ovation for pretty much the last two minutes of the game.


And from the good to the absolutely terrible, the Toronto Maple Leafs. So of course the media managed to create this glimmer of hope for this deplorable team that they could possibly, maybe make the playoffs. As of today, they were in control of their own destiny. They only had the small task of winning the next 11 of 12 games. EASY! (most of which are against division rivals or other teams on the brink of the playoffs as well.) *insert snicker here*

Tonight they played the Philadelphia Flyers, and somehow they managed to pull out a 4-3 win, even though they were down 3-0 at the beginning of the third. Now it was a 4-3 win in overtime, they still get their two points, but Philadelphia got a point too. And last time I checked the Flyers were ahead of the Leafs... yup, they still are.

I'm not sure what this OT win means now. I am almost certain I heard they needed to win both of the home and home with the Flyers in regulation. I think we're pretty safe in saying the Leafs aren't making the playoffs. Actually I'm pretty sure that was safe to say roughly around Christmastime.