how many guys from the Q that fall out of the 1st make an impact?


Lemme answer: going back to 2000, you've got Bergeron, Marchand, Letang, and Vermette, and Clowe.



Maybe Latendresse, if you want to call him an impact player.

But really, that's 5 guys, going back a decade(recent drafts don't count)
- Feeling Glucky?

I don't know - I still think Angelo Esposito could surprise us all.

Most of the league doesn't have heart...doesn't matter...at least he has talent.
Will he put it to good use? We'll see....for leaf fans, we hope he does.
And "heart" is a mindset, mindsets can be learned.
- Fakepartofme

I don't think so. You are who you are.

Some guys might have a trigger to snap them into the right state of mind. But more often than not, guys who have issues with heart aren't gonna turn it around.

I'm going to sit down on Saturday morning with a big cup of coffee and my laptop, pour over the stats, and decide who my whipping boys for this year are going to be.

Bozak is always a possibility.

Komi, of course.

Franson, because he's the greatest Leafs defenceman to have never done anything to earn the reputation that some Leafs fans think he deserves.

But JVR is a strong possibility to be my #1 this year. I just get the feeling watching the guy avoid traffic like Jason Blake is going to drive me nuts.

Stay tuned - I'll be making my announcement just prior to the opening puck drop. Should be a really nice ceremony. Aki Berg will be part of the proceedings.
- Atomic Wedgie

Bozak, he is what he is.....he simply shouldn't be on the top line.
Franson was black listed by wilson and screwed on the minutes....he should be fine.

As for JVR...the way I look at it is he's upgrade.....he simply cannot be worse than schenn.

I don't know - I still think Angelo Esposito could surprise us all.
- Atomic Wedgie

If he does, he's still a 1st rounder.

I don't know - I still think Angelo Esposito could surprise us all.
- Atomic Wedgie

I really cant see that happening

Bozak, he is what he is.....he simply shouldn't be on the top line.
Franson was black listed by wilson and screwed on the minutes....he should be fine.

As for JVR...the way I look at it is he's upgrade.....he simply cannot be worse than schenn.
- Fakepartofme

Can we just not say his name?

It's not gonna end well.

I don't think so. You are who you are.

Some guys might have a trigger to snap them into the right state of mind. But more often than not, guys who have issues with heart aren't gonna turn it around.
- Feeling Glucky?

You are who you because of your surrounding environment, how you were raised and taught.
Heart can be acquired...maybe not to the great extend to those who already have "heart"....but it can be learned.

looking at the practice lines, I think they're content with keeping Bozak at the top, and might put Connolly on the wing.

L-B-K
Connolly-Grabo-JVR
MacArthur-Kadri-Kulemin
Frattin-McClemment/Lombo-Komarov


Sucks that Frattin gets 3rd line duty for Connolly to keep his job, and Brown gets the pine... but it's not the worst line-up.
- Feeling Glucky?

To be fair, odds are that Connolly won't make it 5 games without an injury and then the lines will get shuffled anyway.

You are who you because of your surrounding environment, how you were raised and taught.
Heart can be acquired...maybe not to the great extend to those who already have "heart"....but it can be learned.
- Fakepartofme

I the team is winning, I can see him being good. But first hiccup... bye-bye.


I hope I'm wrong.

I agree ....it's all about that magic $20 or less bottle. I've got a minor collection but most are gifts.
- The Law

I can't stop drinking mine.. My wine rack shakes when I walk in the house.. Oh, No.. there is that big dude again,,

Frattin is a banger...not really a second line guy.
If anything (if he makes the team) he should be on the 3rd line.
- Fakepartofme

So wrong. Frattin is going to be a legit top 6 in the NHL when it's all said and done.

how many guys from the Q that fall out of the 1st make an impact?


Lemme answer: going back to 2000, you've got Bergeron, Marchand, Letang, and Vermette, and Clowe.



Maybe Latendresse, if you want to call him an impact player.

But really, that's 5 guys, going back a decade(recent drafts don't count)
- Feeling Glucky?

Mathieu Perrault, David Desharnais, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Ondrej Pavelec, Keith Yandle, Luke Adam, Marco Scandella, Jason Demers, David Krejci, Maxim Lappiere, Matt Lombardi (lol), Max Talbot and Burrows


your move...

5 more sleeps until hockey

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle

Sounds like Carlyle and Connolly have had some heart to heart meetings. Player wants to do more. Coach suggests he'll play in top nine Fs.

Put Mac on 2nd line.
Put Frattin on 3rd (or maybe even 2nd)
Put Connolly on 4th.

And wait 10 games before realizing JVR is crushingly disappointing, and drop him to 3rd for Kulemin.

Big rebound year for Kulemin. Keep your fingers crossed.
- Atomic Wedgie

I've got mine crossed for Frattin.

Have a feeling he's going to have a breakout year.

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle

Sounds like Carlyle and Connolly have had some heart to heart meetings. Player wants to do more. Coach suggests he'll play in top nine Fs.


- LeafMan

For what team?

I've got mine crossed for Frattin.

Have a feeling he's going to have a breakout year.
- Pen15

Frattin plays with heart, we have room for him..

JVR won't disappoint me. It's possible he does well, but at the end of the day you can't teach heart.

Bad trade IMO.
- Feeling Glucky?

Time will tell...but I think there was nothing more that could've been gotten for Schenn.

Will he play better in Philly where they'll be more support - sure. But he'll never be a top 4 dman in the league...destined for 5/6.

Kadri plays his best at center... I'd look at something like this(barring trades)

Lupul-Grabo-Kessel(GRABO WORKS WITH THEM GODDAMIT. Primary offense line)
Kulemin-Bozak-Frattin(2-way line)
JVR-Kadri-MacA(secondary offense)
Komarov-McClement-Brown

Lombo takes a ride on the waiver train, Connoly and Steckel on the pine.

Phaneuf-Liles
Gardiner(Rielly for 9)-Gunnar(Gardiner needs a strong defensive partner more than Phaneuf, IMO)
Kostka-Holzer would be my choice, but probably Franson-Komi again.
- Feeling Glucky?

I actually like those lines. Good job.

Frattin plays with heart, we have room for him..
- bixll

Of course not.

Given MLSE's track record, we'll probably trade him for an over the hill goalie...and proceed to watch him become a solid player in the league for years to come.

Of course not.

Given MLSE's track record, we'll probably trade him for an over the hill goalie...and proceed to watch him become a solid player in the league for years to come.
- Pen15

I have to pick another team to cheer for..

What is the general consensus?

general consensus is that with the leafs current line up, they'll be jockeying with CLB and NYI for bottom 3 draft picks...
- coach

Monahan/Barkov/Druin/McKinnon

I actually like those lines. Good job.
- Leafland

I do too, we can draft Barkov

how many guys from the Q that fall out of the 1st make an impact?


Lemme answer: going back to 2000, you've got Bergeron, Marchand, Letang, and Vermette, and Clowe.



Maybe Latendresse, if you want to call him an impact player.

But really, that's 5 guys, going back a decade(recent drafts don't count)
- Feeling Glucky?

and marchand id beat up in real life so thats about the only impact hes got on my life.

hes a good lil poop distuber tho.

Monahan/Barkov/Druin/McKinnon
- Feeling Glucky?

I think people will be quite disappointed when they finish the season out of the top 5 or lottery position. I'm telling ya now, don't get your hopes up.