Leafs' Improvement NOT Because of Fighting

[BGDDYKWL]

Amazing someone would go out of their way to try to make this point. Actually, it's really not surprising.

To suggest the Maple Leafs are improved this year – and it’s still early people, even in a lockout shortened season – because of players such as Colton Orr, Frazer McLaren and Mark Fraser is ridiculous. Yes, the Maple Leafs are first in the league in fights and hits with 328, but to measure a team’s worth by those sorts of barometers is picking your spots big-time.

This is not to diminish the importance of team toughness. I’m sure part of the reason the Maple Leafs seem to be better is that they’re hitting a lot and are more willing to stand up for one another. It undoubtedly makes them more difficult to play against, at least on the road, where they have a 6-1-0 record. (It of course does not explain their 1-4-0 mark at home going into Monday night’s game.) But to single out players such as Orr, who barely play five minutes a game, is absurd.

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[FightingIsGood]

It's Ken Campbell. You certainly should not be surprised.

[shaud19]

Leafs have improved because of toughness, not fighting

Doesn't "toughness" go hand in hand with "fighting"? When Orr body punched Scott and brought him down, that was important. Toronto lost the game to Buffalo (no surprise there ) however, that fight I think propelled them forward. I don't like to give credit to other teams however, fighting has tremendously helped Maple Leafs this season.

[grits207]

Campbell is a moron. I have yet to see a single person say fighting is the sole reason for the way the Leafs improvement but you would have to blind to not see the difference in the team's mentality since Orr and Fraser made the team out of camp.

[hockey doc]

When you are on the bottom of the barrel you have no place to go but up, how could they not improve after 7 years of futility. That guy is a real genius.

[The DZA]

Hockey Doc is familiar with being on the bottom too.