Poll Update: Stunning Development

50 Votes!!!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, something very sudden and spectacular has happened here in the General Area. Yet another milestone has been reached, another mountain has been climbed, another obscure and minor achievement for this humble, new-born blog. In honour of this tremendous occasion, we would like to celebrate by dedicating this post exclusively to you. Yes, you. Your voice in your head. You. Thank you being here and for participating in the poll. Your vote really counts and helped to make all this happen.

We're not sure anymore, but we think the poll to determine who is the Least Memorable Leaf Player To Score An Overtime Goal In The Playoffs has been with us since June the 2nd. The subject was touched on briefly in the very first post (see Game Six, 1999, 1995) on this blog, which indeed, was the inspiration for the poll that is still with us today. Like a baby learning to take its first few steps, many of our early posts were followed by a "ThumP!" sound and then some crying. However, on June 24th, our first glorious milestone was reached, as the poll eclipsed double-digits! Ten votes seemed like a break-through at the time, and I remarked in the comment section that we would celebrate again when we reached 50. I never thought we would hit that target so soon, or at all, actually. It was just a joke.

At this time I'd like to give credit where credit is most certainly due. First of all to Greener, from He Score, He Shoot! whose urging and advice no doubt led to our exponential growth in the ballot casting results. Secondly, we'd like to once again acknowledge PensionPlanPuppets for hosting the awesome site that Greener was guest-posting on that day, a site that, like you, I visit fanatically, and is probably responsible for 99% of any traffic the General Area gets. So, cheers to PPP and Greener and You!

Finally, an announcement: The poll remains open until December 31st, however I am declaring it now a two-man race between Cory Cross and Randy Wood. The answer is obviously not going to be Gary Valk, even though that is who I voted for. So I'd like to disqualify Valk or eliminate him or something, and I would if I could, but I can't alter or edit the poll, so this is what I suggest: Since you are able to change your vote at any time, anyone who has voted for Gary Valk, please transfer your vote over to Cory Cross, and let's try to make this interesting! Congratulations, I guess, goes to Gary Valk and his family for not being selected the Least Memorable Leaf Player To Score An Overtime Goal In The Playoffs.

Spoiler Alert! In case there is anybody out there who's still a little hazy about Valk's goal, it occurred in the second round of the playoffs, in 1999, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The goal clinched the series for the Leafs on the road in 6 games, returning them to the Final Four for the first time since 1994. In net for the Penguins was Tom Barrasso, who couldn't control the rebound, allowing Valk to lunge headfirst and spear the puck into the back of the net. Basically, it looked like the picture below. Now you'll never forget.

So, it's Cory Cross vs. Randy Wood. Who is the Least Memorable Leaf Player To Score An Overtime Goal In The Playoffs? Please vote in the Poll, or change your mind and vote again. Make your voice heard. After all, this post was dedicated to you!

Montreal: Je Dis, Non!

Bienvenue, everybody! First, an announcement: You may have noticed a few small changes around here lately. I'm really enjoying the Blogs Of Distinction blogroll, which updates automatically. Every time a new post is published, your blog goes to the top of the list.

Meanwhile, the Poll continues until December 31st with an astounding 37 votes thus far (thanks Greener!). Randy Wood flirts with 70% but Valk and Cross are still making 2nd an interesting race.

And now... let's talk hockey!

Did anyone imagine that it would unfold like this? That Mats would have one option in order to continue his career; wear a Montreal Canadians sweater, or retire. Guy Carbonneau seems to think that's the way it is. There's only one team left for Sundin:

"The Rangers and the Maple Leafs have signed players and don't have any cap room".

Really? Detroit too, I suppose. What about Vancouver?

"It's not all about money with Mats," Carbonneau said. "I'm sure he has plenty put away over the years."

Warning: Dry-witty-sarcastic-response... inevitable.

I'm sure Mats enjoys open speculation about his accumulation of wealth "over the years". We know there's plenty, but where do you think he's put it, Guy? Wait, don't answer, I'm still trying to figure out, if it's not about money with Mats, then why are teams with little or no cap space out of contention? Seems like backwards talk to me. Seems, dare I say it, arrogant? (Gasp! Someone in Montreal is arrogant? Imposseebluh!).

Back to the Leafs. According to this article by Kevin McGrann, the Leafs have 5.4 million left in cap space. Not enough for Sundin, but if Mats were to return, obviously changes would be made.

McCabe and Kubina, the obvious choices at 5 million each, would easily free up the cap space, if a deal can be found to move either. That's a big IF, and it's publicly Plan A, but there's a back door plan as well. Have a look at the Leafs payroll. Now have a look at McGrann's article again, at the box on the side that says LEAFS LINEUP. See who's listed as an extra?

Mark Bell seems awfully out of place as the 3rd highest paid forward on the team. Based on his statistics and troubled history, Mark is Mr. Expendable. Sending him down to the minors would free up 2.16-million in cap space, bringing the amount available to Sundin up to 7.56 million, or roughly, the amount Montreal is offering.

So the Leafs are still in the Sundin sweepstakes. I'm not suggesting the Leafs want to give up on Mark Bell and cut him loose after all he's been through, but that's plan B.

I was going to write a post before that was going to be a debate between 2 people over whether or not the Leafs should keep Mark Bell. Basically, it goes something like this:

Some guy: A convicted felon should have no business wearing a Maple Leafs uniform and no place in the dressing room. Hockey players, and the Leafs especially, are admired, even worshipped, by millions, many of whom are children. I'm not suggesting that NHL players have a responsibility to be role models, I'm just sayin' they are regarded as heroes by many, yet Mark Bell is the opposite of a hero, and it's too much to ask to pretend he's not.*

Some other guy: Ya, but did you see that hit on Alfredsson? It was awesome. He totally destroyed him! Bam! Goodbye Ottawa Senators playoff hopes! It was the best goddamn thing any frickin' Leaf did in last years sad, stinky season. Bell smoked Alfredsson!

So, once more, for old times sake, and maybe, just maybe, if the Captain wills it, as a last hurrah:




*. Mark Bell is the opposite of a hero, and it's too much to ask to pretend he's not: The real reason JFJ was fired, and the real source of dressing room dysfunction is this issue.

Exciting Poll Update!

10 Votes!

Yes, we've reached a milestone and it almost went unnoticed. We are in the double-digits now. 10 votes! 10 remarkable people have cast their ballot. 10 have chosen to make their voices heard on this blog. 10 people in the whole universe. That's pretty amazing stuff.





Update #1: First, thank you to everyone who cast their ballot so far. Pay attention to further updates for special announcements.

Update #2: Randy Wood surges ahead. After 6 votes the race was a dead heat. Valk, Cross, and Wood were tied, 2-a-piece, despite an early lobbying effort from Pension Plan Puppets. However, the last 4 votes have all gone Woods' way and suddenly he has a comfortable lead. Will the 60% trend continue? Does Wood have the endurance? We'll see. Originally, Randy was ranked 3rd "least memorable Leaf to score an overtime goal in the playoffs" on this blog. So this might be a bit of a surprise. Still, there's a ways to go yet and anything can happen!

Update #3: As mentioned previously on this blog, the poll will be open until Dec. 31/2008, so there's lots of time to decide who is the least memorable Leaf to score an overtime goal in the playoffs. However, if you have voted, it is possible to change your vote at anytime. If you haven't yet cast your ballot, then vote now, change your mind later, vote again, who cares?

Update #4: This is a special announcement regarding the 10th vote in our poll. In honour and celebration of that milestone ballot, we would like to call forward the distinguished individual who cast the 10th vote, if they know who they are, to receive our spectacular sweepstakes contest giveaway bonus prize gift! The lucky winner will receive from us at this blog: a congratulatory message in the comment section, and also, an entire post dedicated to them, which may include a link to their website, if they have one. Wouldn't it be weird if the winner also has a blog? There's no way of knowing who cast the 10th vote, or even if it isn't just one person voting again and again, but whoever you are, claim your prize by leaving a comment below.

Cheers to Everybody! Democracy is Fantastic!