Kessel, Kadri, Gardiner, Bolland, Lupul, Phaneuf, Kulemin, Liles (for what it's worth), and JVR... no big deal.

I should have been more clear; the leafs are built for muscle or speed.


- A_Tree

not quite sure what that list is to be honest... outside of the first three, none of those guys are considered fast. at least not outside Toronto.

you honestly think that this shift from fast/finesse team to brute team isn't sacrificing the overall team speed?

the defence is slow. there's no arguing that.
the forwards are a mixed bag. Kessel, Kadri, Raymond are fast guys. outside of them, no one is particularly fast, and some are actually quite slow.
i'm not even saying this as a criticism. it could very well be that they're a better overall team.
- scotch_tape

Kulemin, Lupul, JVR..... missed a bunch of speed guys.

The myth that they loaded up on size and brute at the expense of speed is just that.

They removed Frattin, MacArthur, Grabo

and added Clarkson, Bolland, and Potentially raymond.

Didn't lose as much speed as you're making out to be.

you honestly think that this shift from fast/finesse team to brute team isn't sacrificing the overall team speed?

the defence is slow. there's no arguing that.
the forwards are a mixed bag. Kessel, Kadri, Raymond are fast guys. outside of them, no one is particularly fast, and some are actually quite slow.
i'm not even saying this as a criticism. it could very well be that they're a better overall team.
- scotch_tape

It's tough to say. Seriously.

When you watched Sundin skate in his prime, because he's so big it appeared that he was moving slower than others but he was relatively fast.

Kulemin has a similar stride.

Anyway I agree, overall we sacrificed speed for muscle. You can't have everything... (unless you're the Blackhawks)

They were a grazed goalpost away from losing it to a younger, faster team that had clearly undressed their D core in the latter part of the series.

If they meet the Leafs in the playoffs this year, they won't have to worry about wearing down again, because it will be over for them long before game 7.
- The Shrike

i'm sure it would be

you honestly think that this shift from fast/finesse team to brute team isn't sacrificing the overall team speed?

the defence is slow. there's no arguing that.
the forwards are a mixed bag. Kessel, Kadri, Raymond are fast guys. outside of them, no one is particularly fast, and some are actually quite slow.
i'm not even saying this as a criticism. it could very well be that they're a better overall team.
- scotch_tape

Sadly, most won't notice this compliment.

not quite sure what that list is to be honest... outside of the first three, none of those guys are considered fast. at least not outside Toronto.
- scotch_tape

How not? The first three are definitely fast, Lupul and Kulemin are fast too. I'll concede JVR and Bolland are not fast by comparison to "speedy" teams.

Sadly, most won't notice this compliment.
- Not_Stee

I'll admit it escaped me...

not quite sure what that list is to be honest... outside of the first three, none of those guys are considered fast. at least not outside Toronto.
- scotch_tape

That's utter BS....... Kulemin won the Leafs skating drill and his time was up there with other times. He's not slow, and saying he's not fast is beyond clueless.


JVR and Lupul are also fast, and yes outside of TO.

Iam not ignoring it i fear it ,but Methot and Cowen will not be dropping the gloves with 4th line goons they will be in battle with the best toronto has as forwards.See Kadri,Kessel,Lupul etc.
- top shelf 15

Hence the acquisition of Clarkson, who will be playing on those lines.

Nonis learned something from that Flyers game.

I'll admit it escaped me...
- A_Tree

The fact that he's a Hab fan usually makes most Leafers automatically assume "TROLL".

He's an okay guy actually.

Jonas Siegel ‏@jonasTSN1050 6m
Projected D: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf. Ranger-Gardiner. Fraser-Percy. Reimer starts.
Expand

I think it all goes together, a good goaltender gives the D confidence to start moving the disc forward, which gets the ball rolling. A bad goaltender on the other hand, can completely paralyze the D, which gets them trapped in their own end, which compounds the problem.

Ottawa and Toronto both have mobile D, by design, since this seems to be the model for success in the NHL going forward.

With Anderson behind him, Karlsson has more leeway joining, or leading, the rush, which makes Ottawa a more dangerous team to play against.

Likewise, in Toronto, the addition of Bernier, with his puck handling skills, will embolden guys like Gardiner now, and Rielly in the near future, to do the same.
- The Shrike

are you trying to confuse everyone on purpose?
shall they reply with a flying frisbie reference? or a baseball or basketball reference, or are you in fact talking hockey.

Hence the acquisition of Clarkson, who will be playing on those lines.

Nonis learned something from that Flyers game.
- The Shrike

Clarkson ,will not be the target it will be Kadri .And while clarkson is a good add to make room for kadri ,he will be in the penality box quite a bit

The fact that he's a Hab fan usually makes most Leafers automatically assume "TROLL".

He's an okay guy actually.
- Not_Stee

I hang out on Engles thread from time to time.

I know his MO.

Jonas Siegel ‏@jonasTSN1050 6m
Projected D: Gunnarsson-Phaneuf. Ranger-Gardiner. Fraser-Percy. Reimer starts.
Expand
- burn

Nice. Getting closer to seeing the opening day lineups.

not quite sure what that list is to be honest... outside of the first three, none of those guys are considered fast. at least not outside Toronto.
- scotch_tape

Seems to get by with what he has

i'm sure it would be
- scotch_tape

Their best bet would be to avoid us at all costs going down the stretch, otherwise the beating will be somewhere in line with the one they gave Crosby and company last season.

Nice. Getting closer to seeing the opening day lineups.
- A_Tree

Yep...Looks good to me...

First Im gonna watch the Leafs punch the Sabres ticket in, then Bones Jones split the swedes wig

Seems to get by with what he has


- poohcrumbs

was that vid in slow mo?

was that vid in slow mo?
- burn

No they are playing in quicksand

Clarkson ,will not be the target it will be Kadri .And while clarkson is a good add to make room for kadri ,he will be in the penality box quite a bit

- top shelf 15

That's the point though, while it's nice that Clarkson will score 20 goals, the room that he garners on the ice for his skilled linemates will pay even greater dividends.

If that doesn't do the trick, then the mutual assured destruction method of dealing with teams that go after your skilled players always works:

They go after Kadri, we go after Spezza or Karlsson.

Questionable tactic...yes, hurts your team in the short run....yes, helps your team in the long run once the tactic is established...also yes.

are you trying to confuse everyone on purpose?
shall they reply with a flying frisbie reference? or a baseball or basketball reference, or are you in fact talking hockey.
- Rockhead_37

Avoiding repetition, talking hockey.

First Im gonna watch the Leafs punch the Sabres ticket in, then Bones Jones split the swedes wig
- poohcrumbs

poop is that tonight? You mean I gotta stop playing GTA?