I like them both.
But I like Lupuls fight.
but he is injury prone. - Fakepartofme
I have always been a die hard flyer fan but I rarely miss a Leaf game. They are now a fun team to watch. They have skill, they have toughness, great tv announcer, and are now one of my top four teams. I love Kessel,s speed and vision more than anything, well maybe Colton Orr beating the snot out of somebody, lol
i just hope the Leafs get Hossa after he's potentially bought out (PLEASE CHICAGO!), sign Gordon and Emery, and let the rest play out with financial flexibility via compliance buyout trades (acquiring prospects or picks with horrible salary players to buy them out for the team in need), and then address the rest via the draft.
-
Lupul-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Grabovski-Hossa
Kulemin-Colborne-Frattin
McClement-Gordon-Orr
-
Phaneuf-Gunnarsson
Gardiner-Franson
Fraser-Blacker
-
Reimer Emery
-
=) - Rysko81
This blog said "With the Leafs weakness up the middle." Um....What?
Appearently Kadri, Bozak, Grabovski, Mcclement is "weak"
Ok, I admit, there is no Crosby in that group, but this just goes back to my earlier point about how "name brand" the NHL is. Its a joke.
Tyler Bozak is a good player. He may not be your Toews, Stamkos or Crosby, but he's pretty good and has gotten better each year in the NHL to the point where I think its fair to call him elite in both PK and faceoffs. Plus, he allows Kessel and Lupul to do things with the puck creativley because he can be trusted to be back. You can make a good case he is the most underrated player in the NHL. Certianly he is worthy of being resigned.
Kadri. Second year player notching a PPG? In a league where only 20 or so players do every year?
Grabovski? A playoff warrior, immune to pain who, without complaint, plays down in the lineup and plays against top offensive centres? A guy who can fill in on the PP and can morph his game into whatever the coach wants?
Mcclement? Selke votes from the fourth line? A guy capable of moving up, an elite pk player and without a doubt one of the best fourth liners in the NHL.
YEAH, REALLY WEAK AT CENTRE. What he should have said is "the Leafs don't have a name brand centre and for people who hate analysis and wouldnt listen to a learned opinion if they heard one, this is a problem."
Bozak was great on faceoffs, I just don't see Grabo being great for Kessel. Kessel is my guy and want 40+ next year.
Sorry about my last comment, forgot to add the lol, was just kidding, no hard feelings.
This blog said "With the Leafs weakness up the middle." Um....What?
Appearently Kadri, Bozak, Grabovski, Mcclement is "weak"
Ok, I admit, there is no Crosby in that group, but this just goes back to my earlier point about how "name brand" the NHL is. Its a joke.
Tyler Bozak is a good player. He may not be your Toews, Stamkos or Crosby, but he's pretty good and has gotten better each year in the NHL to the point where I think its fair to call him elite in both PK and faceoffs. Plus, he allows Kessel and Lupul to do things with the puck creativley because he can be trusted to be back. You can make a good case he is the most underrated player in the NHL. Certianly he is worthy of being resigned.
Kadri. Second year player notching a PPG? In a league where only 20 or so players do every year?
Grabovski? A playoff warrior, immune to pain who, without complaint, plays down in the lineup and plays against top offensive centres? A guy who can fill in on the PP and can morph his game into whatever the coach wants?
Mcclement? Selke votes from the fourth line? A guy capable of moving up, an elite pk player and without a doubt one of the best fourth liners in the NHL.
YEAH, REALLY WEAK AT CENTRE. What he should have said is "the Leafs don't have a name brand centre and for people who hate analysis and wouldnt listen to a learned opinion if they heard one, this is a problem." - Timmy_Bee
Good point, however it would be nice to have a clear cut #1 star center. Kadri may be down the road but I am not sure what to expect from Kadri next year. He will have to do it all over again and show me some consistency.
His hip is no longer an issue. He has changed his style to more of a stand up positional style goalie. He is a battler and takes no crap from any forward crashing his crease. The Hawks love him but he has earned a chance to be a starter again.
Location: The centre of the hockey universe Joined: 07.31.2006
Jun 18 @ 2:59 PM ET
This blog said "With the Leafs weakness up the middle." Um....What?
Appearently Kadri, Bozak, Grabovski, Mcclement is "weak"
Ok, I admit, there is no Crosby in that group, but this just goes back to my earlier point about how "name brand" the NHL is. Its a joke.
Tyler Bozak is a good player. He may not be your Toews, Stamkos or Crosby, but he's pretty good and has gotten better each year in the NHL to the point where I think its fair to call him elite in both PK and faceoffs. Plus, he allows Kessel and Lupul to do things with the puck creativley because he can be trusted to be back. You can make a good case he is the most underrated player in the NHL. Certianly he is worthy of being resigned.
Kadri. Second year player notching a PPG? In a league where only 20 or so players do every year?
Grabovski? A playoff warrior, immune to pain who, without complaint, plays down in the lineup and plays against top offensive centres? A guy who can fill in on the PP and can morph his game into whatever the coach wants?
Mcclement? Selke votes from the fourth line? A guy capable of moving up, an elite pk player and without a doubt one of the best fourth liners in the NHL.
YEAH, REALLY WEAK AT CENTRE. What he should have said is "the Leafs don't have a name brand centre and for people who hate analysis and wouldnt listen to a learned opinion if they heard one, this is a problem." - Timmy_Bee
Bozak is great at faceoffs.
That's about it.
He's getting top-line minutes for no other reason than we have no one better.
Do I hate the guy's guts? No.
But paying him more than $4 million a year is crazy.
Hell, even that's high.
Simply put, he is not a #1 centre. We don't need a #2, and he lacks size, grit and toughness, so he's not a #3 (despite what some here might say).
Location: The centre of the hockey universe Joined: 07.31.2006
Jun 18 @ 3:00 PM ET
His hip is no longer an issue. He has changed his style to more of a stand up positional style goalie. He is a battler and takes no crap from any forward crashing his crease. The Hawks love him but he has earned a chance to be a starter again. - flyerdude17
Are we talking Emery?
His hip isn't an issue - until it is an issue.
Avascular necrosis doesn't go away like sunburn.
I'd love to see him in a Leafs uniform, but he's one save away from shattering his hip.
I'd love to see him in a Leafs uniform, but he's one save away from shattering his hip.
Not saying it will happen.
Just saying it could happen. - Atomic Wedgie
We are talking Emery and I agree that there will always be a concern for the hip but he that is three years behind him now and it has not been an issue. Check out his save percentage this year and his win loss record. At one point he was 13 wins 0 losses including a couple of steals, especially the game in Calgary where Hawks were outshot 47-24 and Emery stole the show. It will be interesting to see where he ends up as there will be lots of interest.
He's getting top-line minutes for no other reason than we have no one better.
Do I hate the guy's guts? No.
But paying him more than $4 million a year is crazy.
Hell, even that's high.
Simply put, he is not a #1 centre. We don't need a #2, and he lacks size, grit and toughness, so he's not a #3 (despite what some here might say).
That's just my analysis. But what do I know? - Atomic Wedgie
Attention Leaf Fans, Your new number one center is Mike Ribeiro
If you really want to get rid of Bozak then Ribeiro is the answer, a huge upgrade and if you sign him long term you might get him for 5 mil a year. He is a free agent and the best center out there. Would love to see him and Kessel together. Kessel could score 50 with a creative dude like Ribeiro.
Attention Leaf Fans, Your new number one center is Mike Ribeiro
If you really want to get rid of Bozak then Ribeiro is the answer, a huge upgrade and if you sign him long term you might get him for 5 mil a year. He is a free agent and the best center out there. Would love to see him and Kessel together. Kessel could score 50 with a creative dude like Ribeiro. - flyerdude17
Ribeiro is too soft. Kessel needs a strong gritty two way center.
Ribeiro is too soft. Kessel needs a strong gritty two way center. - Colin Dambrauskas
Ribeiro used to be soft but he has got much more physical the last couple years. He is as skilled as anyone and from what I have heard he has matured to the point that he would be a great acquisition.
Bye the way Colin, I hear that the Flames have a deal in place and are siging Kari Ramo on July 05 as a UFA, any word on that.
