Line-up changes

[Guilt Trip]

I think the difference between Army and Connolly is with Army, there wasn't a long list of injury concerns with him when we signed him.

agreed..unfortunately connolly already had a reputation for being made out of glass

Connolly...6 gp 4 points. Army 5 gp 0pts. Army has missed 43 of the last 98 games.
Connolly has missed 24 of the last 98 games.....now tell me why Connolly is going to be a whipping boy because of injuries before Army is again....agree with Bender on this one...ludicrous double standard

[cw]

jonasTSN1050 Jonas Siegel
Komisarek expected to play tomorrow. Joffrey Lupul also fine for tomorrow after leaving practice early.

Some good news on the injury front. Alter of FAN590 confirmed on twitter.

[Zid]

Komisarek & Reimer not at practice today per twitter.

Connolly skating before practice.

Let's hope all the doors and windows are closed at the arena. Wouldn't want the draft to injure him.

Is there any way possible that Connolly doesn't become the new whipping boy this year?

Yeah, he plays.

And yet Colby isn't the whipping boy. No offense, but this is a pretty ludicrous double standard.

I make fun of Armstrong all the time for being Mr.Glass.

[Deleted Account]

Armstrong isn't the whipping boy because he's not all that important to the on ice success of the Leafs.

[RedLeaf]

Komisarek & Reimer not at practice today per twitter.

Connolly skating before practice.

Let's hope all the doors and windows are closed at the arena. Wouldn't want the draft to injure him.

Is there any way possible that Connolly doesn't become the new whipping boy this year?

Yeah, he plays.

And yet Colby isn't the whipping boy. No offense, but this is a pretty ludicrous double standard.

That's a fair point.

The other part that's a little over the top to me is some of the venom with the criticism from a few folks (not necessarily on this site). Connolly gets paid a fair amount and seems to get hurt a lot. Beyond expressing disappointment, etc, a few  fans really seem to almost hate the guy for it when he gets hurt - a pretty nasty tone.

I don't know if I'll ever completely understand that reaction.

Yeah. I hear you. I think it's the point when the frustration builds up so much it turns into anger, and then resentment. At the end of the day you would think that fans who lash out at his injury proneness, believe he is faking the injuries or the significance of them. What other explanation can there be?

[Bender]

Komisarek & Reimer not at practice today per twitter.

Connolly skating before practice.

Let's hope all the doors and windows are closed at the arena. Wouldn't want the draft to injure him.

Is there any way possible that Connolly doesn't become the new whipping boy this year?

Yeah, he plays.

And yet Colby isn't the whipping boy. No offense, but this is a pretty ludicrous double standard.

That's a fair point.

The other part that's a little over the top to me is some of the venom with the criticism from a few folks (not necessarily on this site). Connolly gets paid a fair amount and seems to get hurt a lot. Beyond expressing disappointment, etc, a few  fans really seem to almost hate the guy for it when he gets hurt - a pretty nasty tone.

I don't know if I'll ever completely understand that reaction.

Colby gets paid $1mil less than Connolly, which is chump change.

@Floyd
Yeah, but what does that matter? Reputation or not, this is the reality: Colby has played one game less than Connolly this year and is projected to be out longer than Connolly. Armstrong has played 18 games less in the last two seasons than Connolly.

All I'm saying is either we criticize both Connolly and Colby or we criticize neither. I'm just asking for some consitency, because I think so far, the amount of hate for Connolly is just disproportionately high when compared to Armstrong.

As far as the history thing is concerned, we went in thinking the guy will play 60 games. Right now I'd say its probable that he will play 50-60. We had no better options, and he's playing at almost a PPG pace. I just don't get it.

While we're at it, let's add a fun fact: Wendel Clark had an injury riddled career. Between 3 seasons of 87-89 he only played 81 games.

[Sarge]

I think the difference between Army and Connolly is with Army, there wasn't a long list of injury concerns with him when we signed him.

agreed..unfortunately connolly already had a reputation for being made out of glass

Connolly...6 gp 4 points. Army 5 gp 0pts. Army has missed 43 of the last 98 games.
Connolly has missed 24 of the last 98 games.....now tell me why again Connolly is going to be a whipping boy because of injuries before Army is again....agree with Bender on this one...ludicrous double standard

Well, I think one has to leave production aside to start here. One should be a point producer, the other one, not so much. Now, as I said, the double standard (I feel) exists because there was no indication Army would be hurt so much when we signed him. There was no reasonable expectation because he had been very durable throughout his career. With Connolly, many folks felt it was only a matter of time before he went on the shelf and its already happened twice. Really, I think the venom comes from Burke gambling with one and not the other... Army he wasn't a gamble at all.

[Bender]

Armstrong isn't the whipping boy because he's not all that important to the on ice success of the Leafs.

Have you checked the Leafs' record when Armstrong plays? I'd say he's pretty important.

[Deleted Account]

Armstrong isn't the whipping boy because he's not all that important to the on ice success of the Leafs.

Have you checked the Leafs' record when Armstrong plays? I'd say he's pretty important.

Or it's just a massive coincidence.

[Bender]

I think the difference between Army and Connolly is with Army, there wasn't a long list of injury concerns with him when we signed him.

agreed..unfortunately connolly already had a reputation for being made out of glass

Connolly...6 gp 4 points. Army 5 gp 0pts. Army has missed 43 of the last 98 games.
Connolly has missed 24 of the last 98 games.....now tell me why again Connolly is going to be a whipping boy because of injuries before Army is again....agree with Bender on this one...ludicrous double standard

Well, I think one has to leave production aside to start here. One should be a point producer, the other one, not so much. Now, as I said, the double standard (I feel) exists because there was no indication Army would be hurt so much when we signed him. There was no reasonable expectation because he had been very durable throughout his career. With Connolly, many folks felt it was only a matter of time before he went on the shelf and its already happened twice. Really, I think the venom comes from Burke gambling with one, where Army he wasn't a gamble at all.

How many people are screaming that Colby is an overpaid 3rd liner right now, who makes only $1m less than Connolly while receiving more injury time?

It's nonsense.

[Bender]

Armstrong isn't the whipping boy because he's not all that important to the on ice success of the Leafs.

Have you checked the Leafs' record when Armstrong plays? I'd say he's pretty important.

Or it's just a massive coincidence.

Ok, but I don't know how you throw away Armstrong's importance to the team simply because he's not a goal scorer. I'd say Armstrong is a very important part of shutting other teams' top lines down.

[Zid]

Just to add .2 cents I also think type of injuries has something to do with it.

Armstrong gets punched in the eye ball, gets his wrist seriously slashed at and breaks his foot with a puck. All visible injuries.

Connoly seems very Alexander Karpotsevish about his injuries.

I know its not fair and makes hardly sense but thats what I think.

[Deleted Account]

Armstrong isn't the whipping boy because he's not all that important to the on ice success of the Leafs.

Have you checked the Leafs' record when Armstrong plays? I'd say he's pretty important.

Or it's just a massive coincidence.

Ok, but I don't know how you throw away Armstrong's importance to the team simply because he's not a goal scorer. I'd say Armstrong is a very important part of shutting other teams' top lines down.

He's -3. Got anything else?

I didn't throw away his importance to the team. He's like that kid on everyone's house league team who can't skate and always goes offside. He's the one joking around on the bench making sure everyone is having fun. He's basically the Leafs' cheerleader.

[Nik]

And yet Colby isn't the whipping boy. No offense, but this is a pretty ludicrous double standard.

Well, first of all, "whipping boy" seems pretty strong. Is there any chance people don't make fun of Connolly? Probably not. But I don't see those jokes as blaming him or "hating" him.

But secondly, the double standard is pretty easily explained. Armstrong, like Clark to some extent, plays a physical game and people chalk up their injuries to that physical style. Connolly is both soft as butter and brittle as, well, brittle.

[Sarge]

I think the difference between Army and Connolly is with Army, there wasn't a long list of injury concerns with him when we signed him.

agreed..unfortunately connolly already had a reputation for being made out of glass

Connolly...6 gp 4 points. Army 5 gp 0pts. Army has missed 43 of the last 98 games.
Connolly has missed 24 of the last 98 games.....now tell me why again Connolly is going to be a whipping boy because of injuries before Army is again....agree with Bender on this one...ludicrous double standard

Well, I think one has to leave production aside to start here. One should be a point producer, the other one, not so much. Now, as I said, the double standard (I feel) exists because there was no indication Army would be hurt so much when we signed him. There was no reasonable expectation because he had been very durable throughout his career. With Connolly, many folks felt it was only a matter of time before he went on the shelf and its already happened twice. Really, I think the venom comes from Burke gambling with one, where Army he wasn't a gamble at all.

How many people are screaming that Colby is an overpaid 3rd liner right now, who makes only $1m less than Connolly while receiving more injury time?

It's nonsense.

Army actually make closer to 2 mil less than Connolly but that doesn't really matter. Folks are allowed to be frustrated with the circumstances surrounding both players, no question. However, I tend to sympathize with the frustration surrounding Connolly much, MUCH, more than the frustration surrounding Armstrong.