Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site bgsuvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!osu-eddie!bgsuvax!newman From: newman@bgsuvax.UUCP (Tim Newman) Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey Subject: The Leafs, a poor excuse for a professional hockey team Message-ID: <180@bgsuvax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 27-Dec-84 10:50:15 EST Article-I.D.: bgsuvax.180 Posted: Thu Dec 27 10:50:15 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Dec-84 05:49:31 EST Organization: Bowling Green State University, OH Lines: 28 The problem with the Leafs lies in that man who puts the Hamilton Tigercat cheers on the scoreboard in the Gardens. Until Harold Ballard dies or something, the Leafs are going to have to be happy with last place. The entire Leaf team, with the exception of Vaive and Frycer, seems to be a team of mediocre players. What the Leafs need to do is trade 3 or 4 of their average players for one good player on some other team. Perhaps they could trade someone to another team with a great need for forwards or defensemen or whatever. The Leafs also have 4 goalies with NHL experience, so perhaps they could throw in a netminder in this sort of deal. Certain persons on the net were discussing the Leaf's "great" (?) young defensemen. Personally, I don't believe that either Gary Nylund nor Al Iafrate is any good. Nylund is a goon and Iafrate is blatantly average. On every level of profes- sional hockey that Nylund has played on, he has done nothing but draw penalties. Iafrate, although touted as a great offensive defenseman on Hockey Night in Canada, has never been a great scoring machine. The Leaf's problem is their defense. Any team which is giving up close to 5 goals a game is in serious trouble. The Leafs should trade away these players (particularly Iafrate and Nylund) who are perceived to be great defensemen but who are really only journeymen wallowing in mediocrity. At any rate, nobody in the Norris can touch the Black Hawks. The only reason that they didn't win the division last year was because of injuries, and it's the same thing this year. Unless Chicago comes down with a rash of injuries, they've got the patsy Norris sewn up. Tim Newman