One on One With the Enemy!
With the gloom of 3 straight losses on all our shoulders, I decided to change things up a bit and bring in some new blood. New on this site, not to the sport of Hockey, Ace has been a hockey and Toronto Maple Leafs fan for almost a quarter of a century (he’s actually smart though). So, here to give us his insight on the Leafs, Habs and other hockey stuff, ACE!
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M: Ace, always a pleasure to talk with you! Appreciate you taking the time out of your busy life in Toronto and whatever it is people in Toronto do to talk with us! You guys…work and stuff… I guess.
A: No problem, happy to be here.
M: So, you’re a huge Leafs fan. Realistically, what do you think are the team’s aspirations for this season?
A: Well, I really do think the Leafs can compete for first, I know, I’m not sounding very realistic because the last time the Leafs did something right was 40 years ago. I think this is the year though! This could be the year we come in first and by that I mean, to have a first round draft pick!
M: Are Leafs fans generally happy with the way Brian Burke has handled things since he’s come in?
A: Brad May is not necessarily bringing the Stanley Cup home. At the same time we realize that this team has more problems than Jacques Demers at a literacy test. IT’s going to take a long time to fix this mess and we’re willing to give him at least until September.
M: With the season coming down the stretch, I have to ask you about the upcoming draft: what do you think should be Toronto’s priority in terms of a single player?
A: Offense! If they get the second pick, Hedman is the right choice. But if those two get picked then there is nothing this team needs BUT offense.
M: Those two? You mean Tavares and Hedman?
A: Yes, I figured he was a given.
M: Can you tell us one moment this season where you’ve been proud of your team?
A: The first game.
M: Beating the Cup Champs does feel good.
A: We beat Detroit 3-2 in Detroit when they raised their Stanley Cup banner and spoiled their party. It’s been downhill since then to be honest. As a Leaf fan you can’t be satisfied with anything the team has given in the past 3 or 4 years.
M: Ok, obviously I’m going to have to ask you about other teams. This being an awesome and amazing and totally busy with traffic Habs website, how far do you see the Habs going this year?
A: I must say, even as a Leafs fan, I enjoy coming on this site, you have good insight, and you’re articulate and good humour. Sounds like I’m trying to pick you up, this interview is getting weird….hold on, I need some Elisha Cuthbert………okay, that’s good! Where were we? Ah yes, the Habs, what more can you say about them, they’re an amazing well balanced team. Price/Halak tandem is great and it looks like Kovalev is picking it up especially after the warm applause he got at the All Star game. Markov and Komisarek are good top 2 d-men. I think when Tanguay, Higgins and Laraque come back; the team will be well balanced. I thought Gainey was a genius bringing in Robby Lang which has provided well needed depth on the forwards, another top 4 d-man and this team is set.
M: I agree with you 100%, but what do you have to say to people who say this team needs a true power-forward a la Vinny Lecavalier or this team isn’t tough enough and if they play a team like the Devils or the Flyers or the Bruins in the playoffs, they’re going to get bounced in 5 or 6?
A: Any team would welcome Vinny Lecavalier. Those rumours didn’t start becuase the Habs needed him, those rumours started becasue the Lightning were shopping him due to their miserable start to the season. Vinny is vinny and would make any playoff team an instant favourite but you have to remember, Montreals weakness is not having a veteran d-man.
M: Roman Hamrlik?
A: I said veteran, not washed up.
M: Oooo, ok well If you were in Bob Gainey’s place, who would you move to get and what part of your team would you attempt to improve?
A: Well look at Hamrlik’s stats - he’s only a +1. Price is a great goalie but he’s no Roy…he’s not going to lead you to the promise land single handedly and you know damn well that the playoffs are all about defence. The Habs need a Brendan Witt. I think that’s the piece that makes them instant Stanley Cup favourites even with Detroit and the new happy Zetterberg swimming in his 71 million and his gorgeous looking wife which is so smoking hot that you just wanna *explicit content removed by moderator*
M: You do have to remember that Price is only 21 though.
A: I know that, but when I look at Price I think of Roy when he was young. Price is no Roy. Roy won the Stanley Cup when he was just as young. Again, Price is not as good and needs a better defence, which is why I think Witt would be perfect for them.
M: All right, if there’s one player that you would never trade on that Canadiens roster, who would it be?
A: Plekanec
M: FINALLY! Someone that enjoys TurtlePleks as much as me! Tell our viewers…or eh, readers why!
A: He’s the smartest player on the ice, no other player has thought of wearing a turtle neck yet. I mean he’s smart, he’s initiative. Think about it, you’re playing on ice, might as well bundle up!
M: That’s fucken true. Word up brotha! Um, anything in terms of his ability with a hockey stick you’d like to comment on?
A: Not really, sorry. But does he have a hot wife?
M: He’s Czech and he plays in the NHL, so probably.
M: So why do you think the Boston Bruins have done so well this year so far?
A: Two words: Claude Julien. Amazing coach, he’s brought the team together and the pieces have gelled. So much so that it makes Tim Thomas a stable goalie….okay don’t laugh, but it’s true! I think that team is riding on that chemistry and with the return of Bergeron last night, it makes them a formidable opponent for Montreal.
M: In a best of 7 series, Boston or Montreal? This April 2009. Choose!
A: If Montreal stays healthy, they’ll take it in 6. I don’t think Tim Thomas is a playoff goalie.
M: But you also can’t forget the work of those less known players: I’m talking about David Krejci, Blake Wheeler who’s something like +25 this year, Dennis Wideman, Michael fucken Ryder, Milan ‘douchebag’ Lucic. Speaking of Ryder, why do you think he’s doing so well under Julien?
A: Ryder has a great history with Julien, they go way back. They teamed up in Montreal and now in Boston. They’re like inseparable lovers. I know of Boston’s good players, the reason I said in 6 games is because both teams are even in assets except for the goalie position. You can’t have an acrobatic goalie like Tim Thomas in the playoffs; the days of Bill Ranford and CuJo are long gone. This is a different league now, the goalie has to be stand up and not rely solely on reflex but on positioning. This game is too fast for goalies like Thomas.
M: Your pick: the best player in the league?
A: Ovechkin without a doubt
M: Your pick: Stanley Cup winner?
A: San Jose Sharks.
M: If the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t win the cup, who do you HOPE does?
A: A Canadian team. I think the Cup belongs in Canada, I’m a Canadian first and foremost and the last time we won was in ‘93 and we’re over due for one. I think Calgary and Vancouver have a good shot but Montreal is definitely carrying the torch for Canada.
M: Looking at this team, it’s fair to say that Toronto has come close on more than one occasion in recent history. I’m obviously thinking of the Conference Semis against the devils in 2000 and 2001, the Conference finals in 2002 against the Whalers…CANES! , and the semis again in 2004 against the Flyers. If you were a general manager of such a legendary but sometimes amusing club like the Maple Leafs, Where do you start in terms of building a successful Stanley Cup contender from scratch?
A: LET ME GO TO THE WASHROOM, I’ll come back and answer. *3 hours later*.
Ok! I think this draft is the perfect opportunity. We have the chance to build with a franchise player in Tavares or Hedman. Then again this draft is so deep, I think the first 15 picks are capable of being franchise players. You also have to assess your current assets and see who is a good team player or someone that will bring some value to your club. And honestly right now, Luke Schenn is the only one that comes to mind who is untouchable.
M: Man, you’re more articulate than I thought. Um.I MEAN! So yeah, if you could bring back one defunct team, it would be..
A: NORDIQUESS!!!!!
M: You really know what to say on a Habs site, haha! Stanley Cup Finals prediction? Obviously the Sharks against the..
A: Montreal Canadiens
M: And the ghosts of the forum won’t bring a 25th cup to the centennial?
A: It’s going to be hard; the Sharks are an awesome team.
M: Any closing sexy thoughts?
A: I hope the Habs go far, seriously they’re such an entertaining team and I would love to see great hockey in the playoffs. The atmosphere at the Bell Centre is one like no other and if a Canadian team were to bring home the cup, I certainly don’t mind the Habs to be them, I mean we’re already like 13 down from you, I don’t think 14 would make much of a difference.
M: haha, Ace…always a pleasure ;). I have missed seeing your strong bulky biceps in those jeans of yours…Um, yeah, thanks a lot.
A: No problem, no can we continue cybering? That was so boring! You said it was going to be foreplay!
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Whats with the sumo wrestling picture? I was never informed of that depiction of the Leafs.
Nice interview, haha.
As the great Snoop once said: “It is what it is!”