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+---- Thread: Barbashev Thoughts (/showthread.php?tid=54745)
- RaiN - 08-10-2015
Just my thoughts sorry if it’s sporadic. Everything is just off the top of my head due to no internet at the time.
It’s 9:48pm EST and Andrey Barbashev is on a Coach Canada bus heading from St. Catharines, Ontario to the 6ix. It’s been a long season for the rookies as they entered their first season with all the pressure to make the playoffs with a re-vamped North Stars roster. Playing for Toronto isn’t just playing for a city. It feels like you are playing for a nation. It’s an odd feeling but one day you are either the fan favourite or the most hated. When you win games people in the city treat you like you are a king. Always welcoming and wanting to give you free food and take photos. However, when you lose you suddenly become a public victim and need to stay inside during the days – which gets tough when you need groceries. But hey this is the lifestyle I accepted and there is a reason I re-signed long term with the team that drafted me and have put all their belief in me.
I know I haven’t said much this season as I was just primarily focused on getting stronger and putting myself in a position where the North Stars management can rely on me for every situation. Sure I played 3rd line but I needed to learn to play more of a two way game rather then a Russian all offence style of game. These are just some of my thoughts. I don’t understand why people do not want to play in Toronto. Stinson leaves for Manhattan however has promised a return in S26 which we are all hoping he keeps his word on that. Then there is Sawyer, to be honest he was only captain because it kept him around. His heart was never in Toronto and I think we’re all happier he is gone. You play for the team on the front of the jersey. He is not that type of player. But then even when it comes to recent Fas like Goody, Stryker even Petty who we traded for in hopes she’d sign with us. I don’t know what it is but maybe we just have a lot of bad luck lately. I truly believe Goody with be a North Star next season as him and JNH are really close friends but the North Stars management have done everything they can to bring in great players but deals either go sour or people don’t want to be in Toronto. So my question is, what is wrong with Toronto? Yes we recently went through a re-build but now we have our core. Every player drafted now will just be great depth for the future and there is no longer a rush for our rookies to get to the SHL. We now have the flexibility to keep our rookies with their junior clubs to continue their development.
Here is how I see it though. Harter resigns on a cheap deal. PLL resigns on a cheap deal. Kjaerberg is soon going to re-sign on a cheap contract because he wants to win in Toronto. Even Zaitsev recent contract was not high in salary. As for myself, I re-signed long term in Toronto as well as I wanted to show how committed I was to them. So if every current North Stars player is re-signing and showing a true commitment, why can we not land any big name FAs or land a great deal to bring Toronto a stud player. Supposedly (rumour has it) that Toronto offered 3 1sts, a Top 4 D and a sophomore player to Manhattan for Goody, Palat and Krivo yet Manhattan accepts a deal in which they received a player named Sterling Knight who has discussed numerous times about how he wants to play in the 6ix. It just doesn’t make sense to me. Sure it’s conspiracy, but I can really see Knight joining Toronto next season with his Whaler ties and his love for his home city. I guess will see what happens, but honestly what is wrong with Toronto? No cup? Sure I guess that is a good reason, but Toronto has set them selves up that they are in a position to be competing for the Challenge Cup for many seasons to come. Every player on the current roster is loyal and committed and that’s the best part of Toronto. Everyone helps each other out and we are literally one big family that talk on the daily. The Russian players don’t even speak Russian in the locker room so that’s not an issue either.
This is just coming off the top of my head seems how I don’t have Internet on this god damn bus but I think Toronto is the place to be. As a team we have had a solid 3 drafts with 98% of the drafted players being active. Most notable players being PLL, Harter, Benson, Robinson and most recently Cynthia and Adam Falk. I even think we got a steal with John Wick who seems to be decently active and was a hell of a steal for where he was drafted. To me it seems were are set for the now and the future. SO again I ask, what the hell is wrong with Toronto and why can’t we seem to land a top tier player? It’s certainly a head scratcher.
Alright different topic. Toronto needs defense. It’s not even a question. We can’t keep relying on Scherbluk’s old ass to continue carrying us. We have some D in the system and we recently acquired an 800 TPE D man in Sullivan who looks like he may be on the comeback? But in our system we have Cynthia, Shea Robinson and we would have had Vikingstod but had to give him up for the expansion. Next draft will most likely draft another D man (at least we should) if JNH and Leafs don’t….. I’m quitting because we need more in our system. But I’m happy we have active D in our system. Oh here’s another conspiracy… Does Patrikov Bure join Toronto in S27 to be with his wife who is expected to make her Toronto debut in S27?? Hmm ovbs just a thought but an interesting one. Honestly, if everything goes as planned our roster could look like this in 2-3 seasons
Cunningham
Laflamme
Raymond
Kjaerberg
Zaitsev
Benson
Barbashev
Nichushkin
Falk
Wick
Lierer (I prob butchered that, sorry)
Toki
Johnson
Sullivan
Scherbuks old regressing ass
Weber
Goody
Stinson
Knight
Bure
Taylor
Robinson
Harter
Not a bad lineup if you ask me. Again this is just what I’m thinking will happen. I can’t predict the future but the future certainly looks bright. We have a great core and we have great rookies. What more can you ask for? For us, I feel it’s like us against the world. Toronto has really had to develop in the system and through the draft. Not many players on the current roster were acquired via trade.
I just
a) feel no one wants to be here
B) feel every counts us out although we almost took out the power house Minny and still forced them to a game 7.
c) Maybe JNH and Leafs just suck at being managers lol. – I’m just kidding.
d) We’re a growing team each season and our time is now
Anyways, I’m almost in the 6ix. I’ll post this once I get home but mark my words… Toronto will be winning the Cup in the next 1-4 seasons. Again just my thoughts and I need $$$ cuz I just bought some nice equipment!
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