Back from Flu Hell - Leafs still suck

Well, it's taken over a week, but my monkey and I have finally fully recovered from our flu. The last stage for me was a nasty cough and it took the last 3 days to get rid of it. So what is the state of the Leaf Nation now that I'm back?



We still suck. Yes, we beat Ottawa 5-0 last night (thanks for the 5 goals against, Ray Emery) but we're still almost last in the NHL. Not only that, but Mats Sundin refused to waive his "no trade" clause and so we were unable to trade him for good young players. Thanks Mats, you're a great player but you just screwed us. You should have allowed us to trade you, get some young guys, and then re-signed next year. We also traded Chad Kilger, who I always liked, and Wade Belak, who seemed like a good guy and was a good fighter but just didn't play a lot with us. Good luck in Florida boys.



On the bright side, we did manage to trade away Hal Gill, or as he's known to Leafs fans, Pilon # 1. Now we just need to get rid of Pilon #2 Pavel Kubina and Pilon # 3 Bryan McCabe. And of course, Space Cadet Andrew Raycroft... I call him that because when he's in the net he just stares into space and doesn't stop the puck. Good luck in Pittsburgh, Hal, and thanks for the memories (of people easily skating around you and scoring).



On my hockey pool front, despite my aforementioned crappy performance by Ray Emery (thanks, Ray), my team is still in 1st place by 11 points with only 2 weeks to go until the playoffs. A 1st round bye is almost a certainty now (the top two teams in the standings after the regular season get one). Sergei Zubov and Mike Richards are going to be hurt until week 2 of my fantasy playoffs so I really need to get one of the two first round byes. My new guys Ryan Smyth and Teemu Selanne are doing well and Martin Brodeur is the hottest goalie in the NHL.



Until next time, I'll leave you with a rare picture I found of the Leaf team photo from this year...





Go Leafs Go and take the Argos with you.

Sick as a dog

It's Tuesday night, and ever since yesterday morning, my monkey and I have been almost bedridden with a horrible fever. Luckily, Monday was a holiday so we didn't have to work, but today we had to work from home. We both have chills, a bad cough, nausea, muscle pain, and a horrible headache that just won't go away. It's about 7:15 PM local time, and the odds are we won't go to work tomorrow because we both feel very sick. It's almost a blessing in disguise that we're sick this week, because next Monday-Wednesday, we are going on a course and have to pay our company back if we don't attend (and it's very expensive).

In other news, the Sundin suitcase watch continues. Although teams like Ottawa, Detroit, Montreal, and Anaheim continue to be mentioned as "buyers" to make a pitch for Sundin, he remains a Leaf for now. I would be so disappointed if he's not traded. He's a great player, and deserves a chance to win the Stanley Cup. The Leafs will win the cup one year, but it won't be this year. If we trade him, we can also get draft picks and a young player or two for him - and then, we can even sign Sundin again next year when he's a free agent in the summer. You'd think there's a lot of interest, and I hope Mats will waive his no trade clause and go to a contender.

Go Leafs Go, and take the Argos with you.

Leafs get the big donut

Here's a newsflash - the Leafs lose again. These jabronies not only lost, they didn't even score. A 1-0 loss to the lowly Buffalo Sabres. Even a few second graders and a dog could beat Buffalo. Even a few dogs and a first grader could beat Buffalo. But then again, a bunch of crippled, blind puppies could beat the Leafs. I didn't watch the game, therefore I didn't have to gouge my eyes out with a rusty nail. But I do have a few guesses as to why the Leafs lost:

1) We played the game blindfolded
2) We played without hockey sticks
3) All the Leafs were replaced with cardboard cutouts - no wait, that couldn't be, because the cardboard cutouts would probably be faster and more exciting to watch.
4) The Leafs decided to stay in lovely downtown Buffalo and didn't show up for the game, thereby losing by default
5) The Leafs won the opening faceoff, and knowing that things would only get worse, left the ice immediately after


And the reason that Buffalo only scored one goal on us? Buffalo was probably laughing too hard to skate after scoring and seeing how crappy the Leafs were

Looking forward to the next humiliating loss boys - good job.

Go Leafs Go, and take the Argos with you.

Enjoying our day off

Today is our day off from work, as our company gives us at least two paid days off per month. If there's a statutory holiday during a month, we'll get that day off, as well as another Friday off. If there's no statutory holidays off during that month, our company will give us two Fridays off. It's very important, because where we live there are little amenities, and most of the major businesses like banks and doctors are only open until 4 or 5 PM. Therefore we need a couple days off a month just to run errands at these places.

Today, we're expecting an important delivery from Fedex. I recently bought my precious monkey (wife) a sapphire ring for our 6th wedding anniversary, and it should be coming today. We are both very excited to see it. Hopefully the Fedex guy will come today because they don't deliver after 4 PM so if it doesn't come today, we'll have to pick it up after work next week.

We're also expecting a visitor from the city to come to our house and assess the property for our 2008 taxes. I'm hoping it comes out low! Tomorrow, we're going to a party at my monkey's friend's house. Next week, my monkey has decided to host a party at our house. She will decide on the menu, and I will be in charge of the cocktails. Time to do some research now. I hope my monkey enjoys our day off!

Go Leafs Go, and take the Argos with you.

Why Ray... why????

My Leafs won 4-2 last night, but it boggles my mind why the Senators lose every time Ray Emery is in net. Ray is .500 this year, and when Gerber plays in net the Senators almost always win. It's like they're trying to get him traded. I really hope Emery goes to a team in the Western conference soon so I can get some better goalie stats in my Yahoo pool. The fantasy playoffs start in about 6 weeks and I am about to drop into 2nd place in a 12 team pool. If I can finish the fantasy regular season in the top 2, I get a 1st round bye in the fantasy playoffs which is important.

Go Leafs Go - and take the Argos with you.

Judgement Night for Ray Emery

Well, tonight my Leafs play the Ottawa Senators at the ACC. Normally, I'd be rooting for the Leafs 100%, only tonight I'm torn because the starting goalie for the Ottawa Senators, Ray Emery, is in my Yahoo hockey pool. Given the fact that the trading deadline is fast approaching, and that coach John Paddock and the other Ottawa Senators players are growing tired of Emery's antics, this may be one of his last games as an Ottawa Senator. In a way, Ray Emery needs to decide if he wants to continue his career in Ottawa, and tonight should serve as "Judgement Night" for his decision. It's on national TV, and Ottawa's playing their fiercest rival in my Leafs. Ottawa usually dominates the Leafs during the regular season, but when Emery has played this year, the Senators usually play poorly. So something has to give, it should be a good game. I'm hoping my Leafs in 1-0 in a shootout, so we win, but Emery still has good stats for my pool. Game time is 4 hours away, so we'll see what happens.

Go Leafs Go -and take the Argos with you!