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Path: utzoo!watmath!watarts!clauzon
From: clauzon@watarts.UUCP (Cecilia Lauzon)
Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey
Subject: Re: The Leafs, a poor excuse for a professional hockey team
Message-ID: <8193@watarts.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 3-Jan-85 12:06:59 EST
Article-I.D.: watarts.8193
Posted: Thu Jan  3 12:06:59 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 3-Jan-85 23:48:15 EST
References: <180@bgsuvax.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 40




> 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.
For my opinion on this, see Jeff Richardson's article rebutting this.  I 
totally agree with Jeff.

>    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.

HAS NEVER BEEN?!?!?!?!?!?  Come on, give the guy a chance!  Can you tell
me *why* you would expect Iafrate to be more than "average" when compared
to players who have years of experience behind them after he's played 
LESS THAN HALF A SEASON?!?   I'd just LOVE it if you were the GM or coach
of the Black Hawks.  You might even trade some of your mid-season 
disappointments (hey, wanna give up Jeff Larmer?) to the Leafs for 
'3 or 4 of their average players'.  
 
As for Gary Nylund, let him develop in peace, please.  He was sent into
a pressure cooker by Leaf management and really still hasn't recovered
yet.  He has developed into one of the hardest hitters in the league,
though.  Give him a chance.  I still stand by my opinion on his
development as expressed in my discussions with Jeff.

>        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.
ARGH!  Can you say 'experience'?  That's funny, I thought you could.  :-)