Sorry my friend but McClement is a great face off winning center.. him and Bolland will not be mixed.. if anything the Leafs will try to get Bolland into the top two lines.. because of his scoring prowess in Jr's.

Now if the Leafs get another top center... than maybe Bolland slides back.. but right now he will be in the 1 or 2 slot until he fails. This is Nonis thinking not mine.. although I believe he is worth the shot... he is highly competitive.
- DoctorNHL

That is highly unlikely, but if we go into this season with Grabovski, Kadri, Bolland, and McClement, it's entirely possible that he outplays Kadri or Grabovski, but I don't think #1 or #2 will be his to lose; he's just a much better shutdown option than Grabovski or Kadri, so it makes sense for him to start on the 3rd line.

Sorry my friend but McClement is a great face off winning center.. him and Bolland will not be mixed.. if anything the Leafs will try to get Bolland into the top two lines.. because of his scoring prowess in Jr's.

Now if the Leafs get another top center... than maybe Bolland slides back.. but right now he will be in the 1 or 2 slot until he fails. This is Nonis thinking not mine.. although I believe he is worth the shot... he is highly competitive.
- DoctorNHL

Carlyle & Nonis are about carrots.. play well move up.. I like it...

Raymond is a bit faster than MacA, still there's a lot of guys who I'd attempt to sign before him.
- MapleLeafsFTW

o me to, but i was saying in respect to whoever made the post saying if we cant get clarkson to go after either latendresse, macA or raymond. i would choose raymond out of that lot, which is still sad.

Sink or swim.. unfortunately Colbourne sank... he will never be there... never used his size and skills.. more of a head issue than anything... sad but true..
- DoctorNHL

he played well in his stint during the playoffs. maybe tried to do too much (its the playoffs, less is generally better, and much safer) but he only got to play cause of injuries. give him 1st line on marlies, let him fill in on 3rd line for injuries (if he excels, make a trade to keep him there)

That is highly unlikely, but if we go into this season with Grabovski, Kadri, Bolland, and McClement, it's entirely possible that he outplays Kadri or Grabovski, but I don't think #1 or #2 will be his to lose; he's just a much better shutdown option than Grabovski or Kadri, so it makes sense for him to start on the 3rd line.
- gravyface

I quoted it right from Nonis... although Bolland will get lots of time on the shutdown.. he is in Carlyle's eyes right now as Kessel's partner.. we will see how great this works.. I personally still see us short a number one center... for all those folks that would like to see Kadri on the top line.. his weakest link is his face-offs.. he is awful in the circle, can never be a number one that way.

Only their play can prove management wrong.. but that is the way it is slated.. from the horses mouth.

I quoted it right from Nonis... although Bolland will get lots of time on the shutdown.. he is in Carlyle's eyes right now as Kessel's partner.. we will see how great this works.. I personally still see us short a number one center... for all those folks that would like to see Kadri on the top line.. his weakest link is his face-offs.. he is awful in the circle, can never be a number one that way.

Only their play can prove management wrong.. but that is the way it is slated.. from the horses mouth.
- DoctorNHL

i dont think thats what nonis meant. i think nonis thinks carlyle will play him 2nd line, kadri probably 1st line, and grabo slotted in the 3 spot

I quoted it right from Nonis... although Bolland will get lots of time on the shutdown.. he is in Carlyle's eyes right now as Kessel's partner.. we will see how great this works.. I personally still see us short a number one center... for all those folks that would like to see Kadri on the top line.. his weakest link is his face-offs.. he is awful in the circle, can never be a number one that way.

Only their play can prove management wrong.. but that is the way it is slated.. from the horses mouth.
- DoctorNHL

He is in Carlyles eyes right now as Kessel's partner?

he played well in his stint during the playoffs. maybe tried to do too much (its the playoffs, less is generally better, and much safer) but he only got to play cause of injuries. give him 1st line on marlies, let him fill in on 3rd line for injuries (if he excels, make a trade to keep him there)
- matt1337

My personal opinion is that we have better on the farm.. I don't like to give up on a player.. but he has failed.. he was given the opportunity to succeed and he failed.. he is a career AHLer for me...

i dont think thats what nonis meant. i think nonis thinks carlyle will play him 2nd line, kadri probably 1st line, and grabo slotted in the 3 spot
- matt1337

You are probably right.. although a winner at every level will always get the benefit of the doubt.

You tell me though as a coach how you can play a guy that never wins faceoffs as you number one.

I don't see it happening.. Bozak was over played because he won faceoffs.. I don't see Kadri ever being number one until he fixes that problem. Not saying he can do an about face... hence my comments.

Kadri will be a great second line center...

He is in Carlyles eyes right now as Kessel's partner?
- honesthockey

Who is your number one center right now?

You are probably right.. although a winner at every level will always get the benefit of the doubt.

You tell me though as a coach how you can play a guy that never wins faceoffs as you number one.

I don't see it happening.. Bozak was over played because he won faceoffs.. I don't see Kadri ever being number one until he fixes that problem. Not saying he can do an about face... hence my comments.

Kadri will be a great second line center...
- DoctorNHL

he just won't be given faceoffs in the defensive zone lol that will be left for mcclement to do, or bolland/grabo. kadri will learn for faceoffs. actually, he won that faceoff against bergeron after they iced it and we scored on that play. he just needs to learn whats the best way for him to win

My personal opinion is that we have better on the farm.. I don't like to give up on a player.. but he has failed.. he was given the opportunity to succeed and he failed.. he is a career AHLer for me...
- DoctorNHL

i wouldnt say he failed. he was injured for most of the time, and when he got better his numbers got better. hopefully he comes to camp fully healthy and we will see what he does

Sorry my friend but McClement is a great face off winning center.. him and Bolland will not be mixed.. if anything the Leafs will try to get Bolland into the top two lines.. because of his scoring prowess in Jr's.

Now if the Leafs get another top center... than maybe Bolland slides back.. but right now he will be in the 1 or 2 slot until he fails. This is Nonis thinking not mine.. although I believe he is worth the shot... he is highly competitive.
- DoctorNHL

McClement is have decent on draws, maybe Bolland slides to the wings. Regardless it would be surprising if either plays on anything but the third. Kadri and Grabo are better offensively than Bolland so they'll get a long look before he moves into the top 2.

I quoted it right from Nonis... although Bolland will get lots of time on the shutdown.. he is in Carlyle's eyes right now as Kessel's partner.. we will see how great this works.. I personally still see us short a number one center... for all those folks that would like to see Kadri on the top line.. his weakest link is his face-offs.. he is awful in the circle, can never be a number one that way.

Only their play can prove management wrong.. but that is the way it is slated.. from the horses mouth.
- DoctorNHL

You mean this interview?

http://video.mapleleafs.n...9&cmpid=embed-share-video



He doesn't say anything to that effect. When asked if he's a 3rd line center on the Leafs, he says: "I think that's where he's been slotted but if you look at his junior numbers... they were exceptional… Carlyle won't pigeon hole him, he'll use him all areas… a more prominent role.. ".

He's not gifting him the #1 hole man; he'll start on the 3rd line, get PP minutes, and like I said, he may outplay Kadri and Grabovski, but I would highly doubt anyone has him pencilled into the #1 slot right now.

There's no reason to believe Colborne isn't ready for NHL play, and can't handle playing at both ends of the ice.

It's just that we've had so many mediocre, crap centremen over the last few years that we have a difficult time having faith that guys like him will develop.

I don't have much of a reason to believe that Colborne can't be as effective as Grabs in a checking role. If we can't take a leap of faith on Colborne then I guess we may as well just throw Gauthier under the bus
- AngryWhiteMale

He hasn't earned it yet, we aren't in a rush to have him play. If he's ready then good if he needs more time, then give him it.

Who is your number one center right now?
- DoctorNHL

Why would you ask him that!? Gonna open another can of poopy worms.

I think he should start in the marlies unless he outplays grabo in the camp. give him 1st line for the marlies, paired with hamilton and biggs. i would want colborne to play 3rd line, given safe minutes like kadri was, but with bolland coming, that opportunity has been taken away.
- matt1337

Agreed, when he's ready he'll earn it. First line minutes will be good for him! Sucks that we lost Eakins though.

Why would you ask him that!? Gonna open another can of poopy worms.
- UsernameUnknown

Starts with a B and ends with an ozak?

It is frowned upon by most... and is bannable.. the truth hurts..

- DoctorNHL

2 for truth.


in a side note, I wonder where UG is and what he'd be saying about this trade. The guy wanted the Leafs to trade every piece on this team for Bolland. Now he'd probably be bashing the guy to hell.

Who is your number one center right now?
- DoctorNHL

Bozak! They have no one to replace him so they'll sign him.

Sink or swim.. unfortunately Colbourne sank... he will never be there... never used his size and skills.. more of a head issue than anything... sad but true..
- DoctorNHL

How was it sink or swim for him? He's still a prospect, prospects develop at different speeds, we are developing him right and now throwing him in the water as you would suggest. Leave him be, he's not a bust and he's not proven.

Bozak! They have no one to replace him so they'll sign him.
- honesthockey

Apparently it's Bolland

Who is your number one center right now?
- DoctorNHL

Nobody, it's July 1st.

Bozak! They have no one to replace him so they'll sign him.
- honesthockey

So Bozak is better than Bolland?

@tsnjamesduthie: We were on the plane ready to takeoff. Now back in airport, stuck here. So basically, we got Luongoed.