Apparently Finnish newspapers are saying Vesa Toskala isn’t happy playing for Ron Wilson. That is why his play is so far from a proffessional level???? If he is using his performance as a trade tool, he’d better think twice. His play doesn’t warrant a contract with the Marlies, let alone a team in the big show. He has one good game (i.e. Pittsburg on Sunday) and goes in the tank for a few games. The first goal against Edmonton was very weak. After outplaying Edm so badly for the period, that goal took the wind right out of TO’s sails. The team doesn’t seem to have any confidence in the goaltender and I’d bench the bum and let the Monster have the reins. Goodbye VESA.

Posted by Stan Randle from Thunder Bay on 12/31/09 at 06:39 PM ET

Weak argument from Houston. I’d say 90% of Leafs coverage is very negative towards the Leafs. Oh, Houston cites LeafsTV as an example of cheerleading? I’d be surprised if a station created by the Leafs came out and ripped them up. MSG Network doesn’t call for Sather’s head. YES doesn’t blast Derek Jeter if he has a bad game. TSN meanwhile has several critical analysts, Sportsnet blasts them constantly, and CBC has the greatest bitter Leaf hater of all, Glenn Healey. Damien Cox, Steve Simmons and Howard Berger also are almost blindly fanatical in their hatred.

There are many optimistic analysts out there but isn’t that just good balance? What does Houston want, verbal barbs exchanged at every press conference and fist fights in the media scrum?

However everything else is pretty accurate, especially on the Leafs being soft. *#$%@& are they soft. They have players who play physical and can play rough when it suits them (aka picking their spots and staged fights). But I believe that the personnel is there, it is just a coach who prefers to play puck possession hockey and a noted disciplinarian keeps the tone way too controlled. He’s got to adapt his style, IMO.

Posted by Andrew Mack on 12/31/09 at 11:40 PM ET