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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watmath.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!absary
From: absary@watmath.UUCP (Al Sary)
Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey
Subject: Re: struggling Leafs and national question
Message-ID: <136@watmath.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 17-Nov-85 14:31:52 EST
Article-I.D.: watmath.136
Posted: Sun Nov 17 14:31:52 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 18-Nov-85 07:25:47 EST
References: <474@bdmrrr.UUCP>
Reply-To: absary@watmath.UUCP (Al Sary)
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 53
Summary: 

In article <474@bdmrrr.UUCP> gates@bdmrrr.UUCP (Al Gates) writes:
>I
>
>It is really sad to see the Toronto Maple Leafs struggle like they are.
>Toronto, home of the hockey hall of fame, and a hockey center, has a
>NHL franchise that is an embarrassment to the league.  What has gone
>wrong with this organization?
>

I don't think the Leafs are as bad as their record indicates.  They had many
very close games, several times losing in the last few mintues of the
game, they probably had the most overtimes this year.  I know that won't 
help much when it gets down to the divisional standing.

>Borje Salming has been one of their mainstays for a long time.  He is truly
>one of the better (and lately underrated) defensemen in the league.  
>Unfortunately, once you get past Rick Vaive, Bill Derlago, and John Anderson,
>there is little supporting cast.  ...

Especially now that only Vaive is with the Leafs, though they do have a
lot of young players who may eventually make the Leafs into contenders (maybe
only for a playoff spot, I don't know).

>             ...                  The goaltending situation in Toronto is
>atrocious.  Surely there must be some better talent for the Leafs out there
>somewhere!
>

I thought the acquisition of Edwards should have helped the Leafs' goaltending
problems, but when I say him play, I wasn't too impressed.  Anyways, Edwards is
a good goaly; he should help the Leafs.

>Since the four charter members of the NHL were all from Canada, does the
>word 'National' in 'NHL' imply Canada?  I'm willing to wager that most 
>Americans believe that 'National' stands for U.S.  
>

I always thought National meant Canadian and U.S., but I don't know, so no
comment.  Does anyone know?

>If this truly is Canada's league, how come the Blues weren't allowed to
>go to Saskatoon?  Is the U.S. running a Canadian league?  How did this
>evolve?
>

I think you have to go a bit further here than nationality.  The Blues weren't
allowed to go to Saskatoon because Saskatoon couldn't support a hockey team,
and there are enough troubled franchises in the NHL already; other teams and
the NHL (and Edmonton) have to support (at least partly) teams that lose money.
The problem with Canadian cities is that even though hockey is more
popular here than in most US cities, they are a lot smaller than most US
cities.