I;ve done this before... Lupul's spike in point totals directly correlates with his increased ice-time and #1 PP unit time. He's always been a point producer, but only ever received 2nd/3rd line minutes and spotty PP duty.

In Toronto he got premium minutes and put up premium points. It's not a stretch to think it will continue.
- Big_Lightnin

Big Lightening, you rock. I was gonna say, word for word, the same thing.

gustavsson, wings brass thinks hes good.
- wingz4life

I hope he has a great year. He makes some pretty spectacular saves.

I hope he has a great year. He makes some pretty spectacular saves.
- Leafland

holland trying to get Franson, shows how poop the defense is.

Counter point: I have looked at his stats. I also saw him dominate in the playoffs two years ago and then have his season ruined the following year by freak injuries. This is a 22 year old former second overall player. A guy with mad skills and the chance to be really, really good.
- Aquaman_2400

He did not dominate the playoffs.

He strung together 2 or 3 great games in a row.

That is all.

He was tied for 29th in the league for points last year amongst centres.

Which means he's either one of the worst 1st line centres in the league, or one of the best 2nd liners in the league.

This argument is now closed. Please proceed to the exits as quickly as possible.

Thank you.
- Atomic Wedgie

Boom goes the dynamite

I hope he has a great year. He makes some pretty spectacular saves.
- Leafland

Yea, Gus definitly has potential.. Those toe saves were deadly

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=413886&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed.


Jesus Gillis a little goofy...
- Fruitcakenipple

What a tool.

I agree, well said. Fans need to vigilant and insist on no trading of picks.
- spatso

First of all, I think any good managemnet team does not care about what fans think, regardless of their vigilism. Secondly, theres tons of value in trading picks. Picks are overrated in that other teams will pay a premium if there is even a chance that you are out of the playoffs and now that should improve because there is a bigger lottery. Secondly , unless youre picking top 3, you can pretty much assume Jamie Benn is better than any guy youre likely to get added value also comes from the fact that we already know Benn is not a bust and that you don't have to wait 4 years to get anything out of him.

If I was a gm, I would trade the poop out of my draft picks.

well first off, in leaf history what we do here is we trade youth for guys who have 1-2 years left.

and ive had a phaneuf jersey since trade day.

i love that you think grabovski is not worthy of a 2nd line center, that just shows how much hockey knowledge you dont have. have you watched any games in the last 2 years or just your brothers minor bantom games?
- big_dion

I have ... And I think you're a donk for putting Grabovski with the likes of some of the guys who have earned their spot in the league ... Tell me ... Tomorrow what would happen if we picked up a number 1C? Grabo would stay 2nd and Bozak would go down to 3rd?? Not likely .... The only reason he sits on number 2 right now, is because we have nothing better.

holland trying to get Franson, shows how poop the defense is.
- wingz4life

Not trying really hard if he's offering a 3rd or a 4th.

First of all, I think any good managemnet team does not care about what fans think, regardless of their vigilism. Secondly, theres tons of value in trading picks. Picks are overrated in that other teams will pay a premium if there is even a chance that you are out of the playoffs and now that should improve because there is a bigger lottery. Secondly , unless youre picking top 3, you can pretty much assume Jamie Benn is better than any guy youre likely to get added value also comes from the fact that we already know Benn is not a bust and that you don't have to wait 4 years to get anything out of him.

If I was a gm, I would trade the poop out of my draft picks.
- Aquaman_2400

You have 2 secondly points.

First of all, I think any good managemnet team does not care about what fans think, regardless of their vigilism. Secondly, theres tons of value in trading picks. Picks are overrated in that other teams will pay a premium if there is even a chance that you are out of the playoffs and now that should improve because there is a bigger lottery. Secondly , unless youre picking top 3, you can pretty much assume Jamie Benn is better than any guy youre likely to get added value also comes from the fact that we already know Benn is not a bust and that you don't have to wait 4 years to get anything out of him.

If I was a gm, I would trade the poop out of my draft picks.
- Aquaman_2400

- Barx

DRAFT SCHMAFT!

As long as they keep those shots to a minimum from the slot and rebounds cleared, and not have both defenseman chasing players behind the net, how many times with Wilson as coach did you see the slot wide open?
- LeafMan

Oh, absolutely. His system did no favors for a young goalie.

I do think Wilson's style pushes sv% down. Not a lot of shots, but a ton of quality scoring chances. The collapsing style results in a ton of blocked shots, but the ones that make it through are dangerous.

I got so sick of watching other teams' bottom defensive pairings tear us to shreds looking like Shea Weber and Zdeno Chara at the points.

Not trying really hard if he's offering a 3rd or a 4th.
- burn

is Franson a top 4 d-man?

I have ... And I think you're a donk for putting Grabovski with the likes of some of the guys who have earned their spot in the league ... Tell me ... Tomorrow what would happen if we picked up a number 1C? Grabo would stay 2nd and Bozak would go down to 3rd?? Not likely .... The only reason he sits on number 2 right now, is because we have nothing better.
- KaceTy

Give it up already. Grabovski is a very good second line center. Sure it would be nice if he was bigger, but he has skill and actually plays the game hard. Not sure why you dont want to accept the facts.

I have ... And I think you're a donk for putting Grabovski with the likes of some of the guys who have earned their spot in the league ... Tell me ... Tomorrow what would happen if we picked up a number 1C? Grabo would stay 2nd and Bozak would go down to 3rd?? Not likely .... The only reason he sits on number 2 right now, is because we have nothing better.
- KaceTy

Probably more likely that Bozak would be jettisoned - packaged as part of the trade if the other team would take him, or bounced down to the fourth line.

I don't expect him to be re-signed at the end of the season - if he is still here.

You have 2 secondly points.
- Leafland

Fourthly? Thirdly.

He did not dominate the playoffs.

He strung together 2 or 3 great games in a row.

That is all.
- Atomic Wedgie

Ok then. He sucks. Lets just say any time the Leafs get a player, he is over rated, one dimensional, has bad stats, etc. But hey, if they trade one, he is a superstar. I am on board for that. Kind of like TSN rating Tlyer Seguin ahead of Phil Kessel. What. A. Joke.

D was poop last year as well...It's just u didn't notice it...
- Fruitcakenipple

Yes we need a Cujo from 99-2002 or a Belfour from 2002-2004. A great goalie who can make up for a weak d-fense. Leafs were contenders from 99-2004 only cause of the GREAT goaltending. Or else... let's do the math, the Leafs missed the playoffs in 97 & 98. Without great goaltending from 99-2004, plus the Leafs not makiing the playoffs for 7 seasons after Belfour left, Leafs could easily be going on a streak of having missed the playoffs for 15 straight seasons

Yes folks that could have been a sad reality in Leaf Land. Let's all give a great thank u to Cujo & Eddie.

Its better because Riemers head is better? he lost 15 pounds? hes played 15 games in the past year? because Scrivens has a handful of NHL starts?

we are doomed
- senstroll

how many nhl games did felix potvin had before he displaced fuhr?

just saying.

Not all doom and gloom at least not yet.

I have ... And I think you're a donk for putting Grabovski with the likes of some of the guys who have earned their spot in the league ... Tell me ... Tomorrow what would happen if we picked up a number 1C? Grabo would stay 2nd and Bozak would go down to 3rd?? Not likely .... The only reason he sits on number 2 right now, is because we have nothing better.
- KaceTy

Actually, very likely.

Or Bozak gets packed up and sent to Vancouver for Luongo.

He was tied for 29th in the league for points last year amongst centres.

Which means he's either one of the worst 1st line centres in the league, or one of the best 2nd liners in the league.

This argument is now closed. Please proceed to the exits as quickly as possible.

Thank you.
- Atomic Wedgie

ya that oughtta do it

He was tied for 29th in the league for points last year amongst centres.

Which means he's either one of the worst 1st line centres in the league, or one of the best 2nd liners in the league.

This argument is now closed. Please proceed to the exits as quickly as possible.

Thank you.
- Atomic Wedgie

thank you sir.

ya that oughtta do it
- Big_Lightnin

Sadly it didnt.