Messages

1111

Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: Top Line dismantle

« on: February 21, 2015, 11:43:42 AM »

I wouldn't want to change anything as it might upset the beautiful tank in progress. But, if you are looking to see if you can "energize" Phil, putting him with either Kadri/Holland and Booth might be worth a try. Booth seems pretty decent in the corners, plays with energy, makes thing happen (although he has stone hands). Bozak should be gone by the trade deadline so someone else will have to play with Kessel.

I'm not sure what to make of Holland at this point, he has good skills and seems to usually work hard...but his skating seems to be a bit of a hindrance.

1112

2011 to 2020 GDTs (OLD) / Re: Leafs @ Hurricanes - Feb. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

« on: February 21, 2015, 11:36:18 AM »

I think he expected that player to be Kessel...and if the Leafs had managed to surround him with the right kind of players - players capable of winning puck battles/maintaining possession and compensating for Phil's defensive "inefficiencies", it may have worked. Instead, he has spent the vast majority of his time with players who have the same faults he does (Bozak in particular, JVR too) which magnifies his weakness. Add to that the lack of a good team defense/defensive system and it just didn't work out.

I don't think Phaneuf himself has been the problem. He's played a lot of minutes against the opponents best players, and generally done OK. Not well enough to justify the contract but that is on management. Also, I don't think he should have been pushed into the captaincy as he doesn't appear to have the right qualities. Leafs would have been better off if they'd acquired an established "character" type player (Winnik/Santorelli type perhaps?) to be captain.

1113

2011 to 2020 GDTs (OLD) / Re: Leafs @ Hurricanes - Feb. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

« on: February 20, 2015, 10:19:11 PM »

Just went back and looked at that draft (referring to the Lindros year). Leafs had also traded their second round pick (of course). There were a lot of impact players in those two rounds...Forsberg, Rolston, Kovalev, Naslund, Whitney. Ozolinsh, Palffy, Zhitnik, and William Nylanders father would all have been available at the Leafs second round spot.

1114

2011 to 2020 GDTs (OLD) / Re: Leafs @ Hurricanes - Feb. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

« on: February 20, 2015, 10:04:14 PM »

I think that was the Scott Niedermayer year, wasn't it? Leafs traded their first round pick which turned out to be #3 (Niedermayer) for Tom Kurvers.

1115

2011 to 2020 GDTs (OLD) / Re: Leafs @ Hurricanes - Feb. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

« on: February 20, 2015, 09:48:01 PM »

I haven't been watching all the games, but man, Kessel and JVR really don't look like themselves.

Kessel at least looks like he's trying some of the time. JVR has been completely invisible (which I guess is a good thing).

1116

2011 to 2020 GDTs (OLD) / Re: Leafs @ Hurricanes - Feb. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

« on: February 20, 2015, 09:33:43 PM »

mirtle: Leafs fall to 4-22-2 in their last 28 games. Unbelievable.

It's both unbelievable and beautiful at the same time.

1117

2011 to 2020 GDTs (OLD) / Re: Leafs @ Hurricanes - Feb. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

« on: February 20, 2015, 09:22:54 PM »

Is your boss Dave Nonis?

1118

2011 to 2020 GDTs (OLD) / Re: Leafs @ Hurricanes - Feb. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

« on: February 20, 2015, 09:15:10 PM »

This game needs a David Clarkson fight (and some more Canes goals of course).

Clarkson v Semin. I'd love to see Semin fight again

Again?  I'm not even sure that constituted actual fighting the first time.

If anything, it should have been an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for making a mockery of actual fighting.

1119

2011 to 2020 GDTs (OLD) / Re: Leafs @ Hurricanes - Feb. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

« on: February 20, 2015, 09:12:13 PM »

Power play is awesome tonight.

1120

2011 to 2020 GDTs (OLD) / Re: Leafs @ Hurricanes - Feb. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

« on: February 20, 2015, 08:50:50 PM »

I consider this a must-lose game. Whatever it takes.

1121

2011 to 2020 GDTs (OLD) / Re: Leafs @ Hurricanes - Feb. 20th, 7:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

« on: February 20, 2015, 08:31:08 PM »

Classic recent-era Kessel play there. Lose the puck, then swing his stick at the opponent. Bonus penalty to boot.

1122

Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: Leafs negotiating long-term deal with Kadri?

« on: February 20, 2015, 11:46:41 AM »

I was the one who made the initial comment that putting Kadri on the first line a few years ago might have led to something other than the current dire, complete rebuild situation. I don't necessarily believe that to be true. However, no one can really say for certain. Perhaps Kadri and Kessel develop a really strong chemistry which offsets any weakening of the second line. Perhaps it exposes Bozak for what he is and the Leafs go out and find a stronger center instead of signing Clarkson.

I suspect the most likely outcome would be that the Leafs would be a little better, perhaps even on the verge of making the playoffs the past 2 years. That might just delay the inevitable need for a complete rebuild, but who knows.

For the record, I'm not sold on Kadri being a true #1 center, or even being a better fit with Kessel. If you think about it, the Leafs really have only one player on offense that the opposition must game plan for, and that is Kessel - when he's on, at least. The rest of the Leafs top forwards (Lupul, JVR, Bozak, even Kadri) bring similar skills - none are particularly physical, none are really good at winning puck battles, all are streaky scorers. We need another forward that scares the opposition and makes his linemates better. Can Kadri be that going forward? I'd argue that we really don't know - some of the numbers suggest yes, others don't. It would be nice to know that as the team potentially enters a tear-down/rebuild mode.

1123

Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: 2014/15 Leafs Injuries Thread

« on: February 19, 2015, 01:51:59 PM »

Might be better at this point to hold onto Lupul until the summer or even next season. Who is going to want to grab a player who, in addition to being frequently injured, is currently injured, for this years playoff run?

1124

General Rumours & Speculation / Re: Official Armchair GM Thread 2014-2015 Leafs

« on: February 19, 2015, 01:15:25 PM »

Leaf fans disappointed? Hard to imagine 

1125

General Rumours & Speculation / Re: Official Armchair GM Thread 2014-2015 Leafs

« on: February 19, 2015, 12:21:22 PM »

Agree that it's unlikely that some of the players being mentioned would be traded for Kessel, especially if they are already making an impact in the NHL. But for someone who is still 18 or 19 and years away from having the impact of a Kessel right now, even a top-5 type (which Kessel was), it could happen.