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 in the long run.

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.
- The Shrike

Yeah nobody is saying run the guy ,thats just bush .I mean the best of ottawa,s defenders are smart enough to know whom to pay extra attention to an that line .

I would rather cover kadri close ,and let the less dynamic clarkson try to carry the offense for that line

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

Kulemin is considered slow??? proven BS

Fastest Skater (Individual Event)
2011 Michael Grabner 14.238 seconds
2009 Andrew Cogliano 14.31 seconds
2008 Shawn Horcoff 14.395 seconds*
2007 Andy McDonald 14.030 seconds
2004 Scott Niedermayer 13.783 seconds
2003 Marian Gaborik 13.713 seconds
2002 Sami Kapanen 14.039 seconds
2001 Bill Guerin 13.690 seconds
2000 Sami Kapanen 13.649 seconds
1999 Peter Bondra 14.640 seconds
1998 Scott Niedermayer 13.560 seconds
1997 Peter Bondra 13.610 seconds
1996 Mike Gartner 13.386 seconds
1994 Sergei Fedorov 13.525 seconds
1993 Mike Gartner 13.510 seconds
1992 Sergei Fedorov 14.363 seconds
* revised format


http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=67157


Fastest Skater

For the second consecutive year, Team White's Nikolai Kulemin holds bragging rights as fastest skater on the Leafs. Kulemin completed the fastest lap of the ice, winning the event this year with a time of 14.067 seconds.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...on/133/31458#.Uj3Foa4TUqQ

Recored a faster time than Grabner who is considered fast! His time is faster than the last 3 allstar winners...... but hey he's slow as (frank) eh!!

Kulemin is considered slow??? proven BS

Fastest Skater (Individual Event)
2011 Michael Grabner 14.238 seconds
2009 Andrew Cogliano 14.31 seconds
2008 Shawn Horcoff 14.395 seconds*
2007 Andy McDonald 14.030 seconds
2004 Scott Niedermayer 13.783 seconds
2003 Marian Gaborik 13.713 seconds
2002 Sami Kapanen 14.039 seconds
2001 Bill Guerin 13.690 seconds
2000 Sami Kapanen 13.649 seconds
1999 Peter Bondra 14.640 seconds
1998 Scott Niedermayer 13.560 seconds
1997 Peter Bondra 13.610 seconds
1996 Mike Gartner 13.386 seconds
1994 Sergei Fedorov 13.525 seconds
1993 Mike Gartner 13.510 seconds
1992 Sergei Fedorov 14.363 seconds
* revised format


http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=67157


Fastest Skater

For the second consecutive year, Team White's Nikolai Kulemin holds bragging rights as fastest skater on the Leafs. Kulemin completed the fastest lap of the ice, winning the event this year with a time of 14.067 seconds.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...on/133/31458#.Uj3Foa4TUqQ

Recored a faster time than Grabner who is considered fast! His time is faster than the last 3 allstar winners...... but hey he's slow as (frank) eh!!
- burn

Does Kraft Diner taste better in Stevensville?

Does Kraft Diner taste better in Stevensville?
- sloppyseconds2

You mean KRAFT DINNER

Yeah nobody is saying run the guy ,thats just bush .I mean the best of ottawa,s defenders are smart enough to know whom to pay extra attention to an that line .

I would rather cover kadri close ,and let the less dynamic clarkson try to carry the offense for that line

- top shelf 15

I suspect this year the Kadri line will start to get more attention from other teams shut down guys. Shut down guys don't play 40 minutes a night though, so that means Kessel's line will have more room. Either way, can't shut down both.

You mean KRAFT DINNER
- poohcrumbs

That too.

That too.
- sloppyseconds2

Kraft Diner and Cool - Aide always hits the spot

Kraft Diner and Cool aide always hits the spot
- poohcrumbs

It still does for some reason. Don't really hit the Kool Aid as I once did, but we were poor as (frank) so we had Freshie.

Ok has cowen not established himself as the number 2 pairing shut down defender??Who is toronto,s and is he better than cowen ??
- top shelf 15

In fairness, and especially going by their short careers and what they did last season, I would take Fraser over Cowen. Cowen has much more upside, but until he reaches that level I take Fraser. He is not an established NHLer due to a respectable track record in the league.

Whats the verdict of what the leafs should do with unsigned players? Use all the cap to sign Franson? try to sign Raymond for 1mil and potentially lose Franson for a year. Trade?

Yeah nobody is saying run the guy ,thats just bush .I mean the best of ottawa,s defenders are smart enough to know whom to pay extra attention to an that line .

I would rather cover kadri close ,and let the less dynamic clarkson try to carry the offense for that line

- top shelf 15

Clarkson won't carry the offense. What he will do is draw attention to himself, get in the Dmens face and cause havoc in front of the net. If you wish to ignore that, and cover Kadri, it won't be pretty. Especially with Lupul or JVR on that line.

It still does for some reason. Don't really hit the Kool Aid as I once did, but we were poor as (frank) so we had Freshie.
- weirdoh

I hear that

New blog up.

I hear that
- poohcrumbs

You know what Freshie was? Damn, nobody ever remembers the "cheaper" version of poor juice.

Clarkson won't carry the offense. What he will do is draw attention to himself, get in the Dmens face and cause havoc in front of the net. If you wish to ignore that, and cover Kadri, it won't be pretty. Especially with Lupul or JVR on that line.
- Gunslinger

Hes also a pitbull on the forecheck

Hope the way he plays and his "all out effort" wears off on some of the other Leafs who need it

You know what Freshie was? Damn, nobody ever remembers the "cheaper" version of poor juice.
- weirdoh

Yep I am that Guy

Does Kraft Diner taste better in Stevensville?
- sloppyseconds2

What?

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

Go ahead and hit the target... Clarkson will smash your lights out for it.. hence why we got him

Go ahead and hit the target... Clarkson will smash your lights out for it.. hence why we got him
- Jay Uller

Who is clarkson going to smash ,a defenseman that is doing his job and covering the most dangerous forward.Yeah Toronto,s pk had better be good if he does that

In fairness, and especially going by their short careers and what they did last season, I would take Fraser over Cowen. Cowen has much more upside, but until he reaches that level I take Fraser. He is not an established NHLer due to a respectable track record in the league.
- Gunslinger

Cowen played top 4 mins in his rookie season on a playoff team,dont know many that would say Fraser=Cowen maybe gyrba=fraser

Cowen played top 4 mins in his rookie season on a playoff team,dont know many that would say Fraser=Cowen maybe gyrba=fraser

- top shelf 15

GArdiner played top4 mins (and more mins/game than Cowen) in rookie year..... but unfortunately he's not as established as Cowen. Maybe when GArdiner plays 3 more games he's be considered established!!

GArdiner played top4 mins (and more mins/game than Cowen) in rookie year..... but unfortunately he's not as established as Cowen. Maybe when GArdiner plays 3 more games he's be considered established!!


- burn

Yes last season ,gardener played more mins .Because Cowen was hurt for the season ,but the season before i didnt see gardener that much in the top 4 for toronto.But i did see cowen having a 200 hit rookie season while helping his team make the playoffs as a top 4 defender

Yes last season ,gardener played more mins .Because Cowen was hurt for the season ,but the season before i didnt see gardener that much in the top 4 for toronto.But i did see cowen having a 200 hit rookie season while helping his team make the playoffs as a top 4 defender

- top shelf 15

Gardiner played 21:35/game. in his rookie year..... more than Cowen.

Gardiner played 21:35/game. in his rookie year..... more than Cowen.
- burn

Again cowen did it for 82 games in his rookie season on a playoff team .Has Franson or Gardener done this??Hense i said established as a top 4 defender,not cowen >>>>than every leaf defender as you see it

Again cowen did it for 82 games in his rookie season on a playoff team .Has Franson or Gardener done this??Hense i said established as a top 4 defender,not cowen >>>>than every leaf defender as you see it
- top shelf 15

You have serious serious reading problems. Get help, and fast.

I am not saying that you're saying Someone is better than someone else. That's not what this is about (for the billionth time). I want to know how you can consider a player with 90 NHL games (playing 19/game) is more established than the guy with 87 NHL games playing (21:43mins/game)



GArdiner has played more mins and in a top 4 role than Cowen. But somehow Cowen is more established.